2026 Road to BAL: Nairobi City Thunder win East Division Elite 16

Nairobi City Thunder - Johannesburg Giants 94-84

Nairobi City Thunder clinched the East Division Elite 16 title in the 2026 Road to BAL with a hard-fought 94–84 victory over the Johannesburg Giants. Thunder started strong, building an early advantage with a 28–17 first quarter and extending the lead to 12 points by halftime. Their dominant third quarter, where they poured in 33 points, proved to be the game’s turning point, giving them a comfortable cushion heading into the final period. Johannesburg mounted a late push with a 23-point fourth quarter, but Thunder’s earlier offensive surge ensured the gap remained out of reach. With the win, Nairobi City Thunder claimed the divisional crown and continued their impressive run toward the Basketball Africa League.
Ater Majok (210-C-1987, college: UConn) and Tylor Ongwae (201-F-1991, college: ULM) led the way with 17 points each, whilst Albert Odero (193-G-1997, college: Talladega) had 14. Dhieu Abwok (196-G-2001, college: UTSA) answered with 21 points in a loss.