Burundian champions Urunani delivered a stunning performance to edge out Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder in a thrilling 89-88 victory during the East Division Road to BAL qualifiers in Tanzania.
The clash between the two powerhouses of Group D lived up to expectations, with Urunani pulling off a dramatic comeback to claim the win by a single point.
For most of the game, Thunder seemed in control, leading for an impressive 36 minutes and 25 seconds. Tylor Ongwae spearheaded the Kenyan side’s efforts, pouring in 23 points and narrowly missing a double-double with eight rebounds.
His impressive 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc was complemented by William Sydney Davis II, who contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Garang Diing recorded a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
Despite Thunder’s strong start, the game took a decisive turn early in the fourth quarter when guard Uchenna Iroegbu fouled out just two minutes in.
Iroegbu, who had been instrumental in Thunder’s play with 12 points and seven assists, left a significant void on the court. His absence, coupled with Will picking up a late injury, saw Thunder’s offense falter just when they needed it most.
Urunani, powered by the dynamic duo of Jean-Jacques Boissy and Marcus Christopher Crawford, took full advantage of Thunder’s setbacks.
Boissy was a constant threat, dropping 28 points and falling just one assist shy of a double-double, while Crawford added 24 points, seven assists, and four steals to finish with an efficiency rating of 27.
Their relentless play, particularly in the closing moments, proved to be too much for Thunder to contain.
The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, featuring nine lead changes and six ties. Both teams were evenly matched statistically, but it ultimately came down to who could seize their opportunities in the final minutes.
With just seconds left on the clock, Thunder had a chance to win it, but their final attempt at the basket fell short, allowing Urunani to escape with the victory. The Burundian side also excelled in fast breaks, outscoring Thunder 14 to 5 in this crucial area.
For Urunani, this win almost guarantees them a place in the Elite 16 after securing their third consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Thunder will need to regroup and focus on their remaining two matches against GNBC and JKT if they hope to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Reflecting on the game, Ongwae acknowledged the tough loss but remained optimistic about Thunder’s path forward.
“We had prepared well for Urunani, and we started strong, maintaining momentum until the end. Unfortunately, Iroegbu fouling out and Will’s injury slowed us down offensively, but we can’t dwell on this. We need to regroup and win the next two games to stay in contention,” he said.
For Crawford, the victory was a hard-earned reward. “This is what we play for, putting a smile on the fans with performances like this. We kept pushing and held on to the last minute for the win. We’ll keep fighting just as hard in the next games because that’s the joy of playing the game,” he said, delighted with the outcome.
With the stakes higher than ever, both teams will be eager to make their mark as the Road to BAL qualifiers continue.
