Nairobi City Thunder Clinch BAL Elite 16 Eastern Division Title in Thrilling Final

Nairobi, Kenya – The Nairobi City Thunder have once again punched their ticket to Africa’s premier men’s club basketball competition, the Basketball Africa League (BAL), securing the Road to BAL Elite 16 Eastern Division championship on home court. In a hard-fought final, the Kenyan champions outlasted the Johannesburg Giants with a 94-84 victory, marking their second consecutive year as hosts and champions of this crucial qualifying tournament.

Under the guidance of head coach Bradley Ibs, the Thunder, who also hold the domestic double title in Kenya, had already secured their spot in the 2026 BAL season on Saturday. Their dominant performance against Ferroviario da Beira paved the way for Sunday’s championship clash.The final mirrored their 2024 triumph at the same Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium, with the Thunder leading from the opening tip-off.

The electric atmosphere was palpable,with the 5,000-seat arena packed for the second game in a row. Fans roared their support, fueling the home team as the Johannesburg Giants mounted a spirited comeback attempt. The tension escalated in the final quarter, with the Giants playing the closing minute without their head coach, Florsheim Ngwenya, who was ejected from the game as his team desperately sought to close the deficit.

The Giants showed unbelievable resilience,clawing back from a 22-point deficit established in the second quarter. after halftime, they managed to narrow the gap substantially. A clutch three-pointer from Nkosinathi Sandile Sibanyoni with just 2:48 remaining brought them within nine points, trailing 91-82. At this point,the Kenyan champions faced serious pressure. However, a series of crucial turnovers and missed opportunities by the Giants allowed the Thunder to hold on and seal their hard-earned victory.

Leading the charge for the Nairobi City Thunder were captain Tyler Ongwae and center Ater Majok, who each contributed 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. Albert Odero added a solid 14 points to the scoreboard. Eugene adera’s impact was also pivotal, as he pulled down 12 rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double with two assists.

The game began with the Thunder establishing an early 11-2 lead, ultimately winning the first quarter 28-17. While the Giants gradually shook off their slow start, the Thunder extended their advantage to 45-25 five minutes into the second quarter. Despite the deficit, the South Africans continued to fight, trailing by 12 points at halftime, 50-38.

In the third quarter,the Thunder’s offensive prowess shone through,with eight accomplished shots from beyond the arc contributing to a 33-23 period advantage. This surge re-established their largest lead of the game, 83-61. Though, the Giants refused to go down without a fight. Ngabo Kasilembo ignited a final-quarter rally with a fast-break basket, leading the Giants to a 23-11 period win. Despite their strong finish, it wasn’t enough to overcome the earlier deficit.

“I think we played poorly, especially in the first quarter, and that’s our biggest weakness. today, maybe it was because we were already qualified. We didn’t stick to our defensive principles, but you have to recognize their success: they made more than 50 percent of their three-point shots, which is very remarkable. We were a little lethargic, and when we started to push in the second half, it was too late.”
Florsheim Ngwenya, Head Coach of the Johannesburg Giants

“It’s great to go undefeated, return to the BAL and beat a great team twice. The fans made the atmosphere electric. Both teams really wanted to win and it was an exciting final.There was little difference between the group match and this final.We had big leads, but they never gave up, and we stuck to our plan to win.”
Bradley ibs, head Coach of the nairobi City Thunder

The Nairobi City Thunder’s victory not only secures their place in the 2026 BAL season but also solidifies their status as a dominant force in African club basketball.