Nairobi City Thunder Secure Historic First Win in BAL

After enduring a rocky debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Nairobi City Thunder have finally found their footing, securing their first-ever win in the prestigious continental tournament with an 85-76 victory over South Africa’s Made By Basketball (MBB) on Saturday evening in Kigali, Rwanda. The road to this breakthrough moment has been anything but smooth. The Kenyan champions lost their first four games in the Nile Conference, including a heartbreaking 75-74 defeat to MBB earlier in the week. Each match tested their resilience, but the Thunder refused to give up on their dream of making it to the BAL playoffs in South Africa. Their campaign began on May 17 with a tough 92-63 loss to hosts APR Rwanda, followed by a record-setting 115-87 defeat to Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli the next day. The team’s closest brush with victory came on May 20, when a dramatic buzzer-beater by MBB’s Robinson Opong (190-G/F-1989, college: Rogers St.) snatched a one-point win from their grasp. “We just want to keep improving with each game,” said head coach Bradley Ibs after the MBB loss. “If we do that, the wins will come.” And come they did. Against MBB in the rematch, Thunder delivered a disciplined performance, staying competitive through the first three quarters before exploding in the final stretch. This time, it was Thunder who dictated the pace and finished strong—reversing the heartbreak of their earlier meeting. “It feels amazing,” said Odero after the final whistle. “We still have work to do, but this win means the world to us. We’re grateful to everyone who believed in us, especially the fans who made the trip to support us.” Team captain Tylor Ongwae (201-F-1991, college: ULM) and players like Eugene Adera (203-SG-1997) and Garang Ding (2001) stepped up in key moments, anchoring the team with energy and focus. Their growing cohesion was evident throughout the match, a testament to their commitment to bounce back. Thunder’s win might have come late in the campaign, but it marks a critical moment—not just for the team, but for Kenyan basketball. Their participation in BAL and now their first victory, underscores a new era of competitiveness for the nation on Africa’s elite basketball stage. With one more game to play, another rematch against APR Rwanda, Thunder still face long odds in the playoff race. But whatever the outcome, they’ve already proven that they belong here. And for a team once written off after three straight losses, that’s a statement loud enough to shake the court.
Courtesy of: michezoafrika.com