Nairobi City Thunder secure 2-0 series lead over KPA in 2025 KNBL final

Unstoppable forward Albert Odero (193-G-1997, college: Talladega) scored 28 points as he led Nairobi City Thunder to a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five 2025 Kenya National Basketball League finals after they managed to edge out Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 93-79 on Sunday evening at the Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa. The Brad Ibs charges entered this match brimming with confidence after taking the first game on Saturday, beating KPA 81-47. While they take this commanding lead back to Nairobi to host the third game, Thunder have still remain unbeaten since 2023. However, in this game, buoyed by their fans, KPA fought hard to secure a victory by any means. In a stark contrast to Saturday’s match, they managed to secure the second and fourth quarters, but Thunder’s dominance in the first quarter prevented them from closing the 14-point gap. Two KPA players stood out with double-digit scoring, led by Washington Ayiecho, who came off the bench to tally 16 points, while Morel Spencer contributed 15 points. They kept their side competitive in a thrilling match where four Thunder players also scored in double digits. Apart from Odero’s impressive haul, captain Taylor Ongwae scored 15 points, point guard Garang Diing added 18 points, and Derrick Ogechi (190-G-1998, college: Midwestern St.) chipped in 11 points, guiding the team to a commanding road victory. Just like in game one on Saturday at the same venue, City Thunder got off to a perfect start in the first quarter, opening a 29-11 lead. They punished the Dockers, who struggled to convert their free throws. Eugine Adera, who scored 12 points in the opening game, led the charge in the first quarter with eight points, while Ongwae contributed six points, including two three-pointers. Faheem Juma, Fidel Okoth, and Albert Odero each added three points, and Derrick Ogechi scored five points in this quarter. The hosts saw Spencer as their top scorer with four points, but the Sammy Kiki charges struggled with free throws and three-point shooting.
In the second quarter, KPA turned things around, winning the quarter 24-16 by dominating both offensively and defensively. Spencer led the charge with seven points, and Martin Buluma added six for the Dockers. Despite this effort, they still trailed by 10 points at halftime, with Thunder leading 45-35. Odero scored 11 of Thunder’s 16 points in the second quarter. Nairobi City Thunder mounted a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring KPA 27-18 to extend their lead to 72-53 heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter saw a determined Dockers side aiming to close the gap, winning the quarter 26-21. However, Thunder’s massive first-quarter lead was enough to secure a 93-79 road victory and a 2-0 series lead.
Courtesy of: sportpesa.com