Nairobi City Thunder Fights for BAL Playoff Spot After Losing First Three Games

In Summary:

Nairobi City Thunder, Kenya’s team in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), has lost its first three games in the Nile Conference.
They are the only team in their group without a win but still have a chance to reach the playoffs in South Africa.
To qualify, the Thunder must win their remaining three games and hope other results go their way.

The Nairobi City Thunder, representing Kenya in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), is facing a tough challenge to keep its playoff dreams alive. So far, the team has played three games in the Nile Conference and has not won any of them, making them the only team in their group without a victory. Despite these early struggles, the Thunder still has a narrow path to the playoffs, which are set to happen in South Africa this June. Their mission is clear: they must win all three of their upcoming games to have any hope of moving forward in the competition.

The Nairobi City Thunder (BAL) lost its first three games in the Nile Conference. Photo courtesy.

Early Struggles on the Court

The journey for Nairobi City Thunder in the BAL has been difficult so far. Their first game on May 17 saw them lose 92-63 to the host team, APR Rwanda.

The next day, May 18, they faced Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya and were defeated 115-87. This score set a new record for Al Ahli in the BAL.

On May 20, the Thunder played a very close game against MBB from South Africa but lost by just one point, 75-74. The winning shot for MBB was a three-pointer made by Robinson Opong right as the game ended.

These results show the tough competition the Kenyan team is up against.

Team Outlook and Path Forward

Despite the losses, Nairobi City Thunder’s coach, Bradley Ibs, sees improvements in the team’s performance. He stated that the team is “getting better every game” and learning valuable lessons.

Coach Ibs also noted the good teamwork among players like Eugene Adera, Garang Ding, and Tylor Ongwae, praising their connection and determination. Guard Garang Diing Akol Diing shared his disappointment about the narrow loss to MBB but stressed the team’s commitment to learn from their mistakes.

He admitted that the team could not stop MBB’s late push and promised to study the game to improve.

Coach Bradley Ibs sees improvement, stating the team’s “getting better every game.” Photo courtesy.

Playoff Push: The Road Ahead

The Thunder’s next crucial game is scheduled for today, May 22, at 5:00 PM EAT, where they will face Al Ahli Tripoli for the second time. After this, they will play MBB again on May 24 and then APR Rwanda on May 25.

Winning all three of these matches is essential for their playoff hopes. They also need other game results in their conference to go in their favor, specifically for MBB to lose some of their upcoming games.

The BAL, now in its fifth season, is Africa’s premier basketball league, featuring 12 teams from various nations. Nairobi City Thunder earned their spot by winning Kenya’s league championship in 2024, making this their first appearance in the league.

The top teams from the conference stage will advance to the final playoff rounds in South Africa. The Nairobi City Thunder remains determined and focused on their upcoming games, hoping to turn their season around and secure a spot in the playoffs.