Nairobi City Thunder reignited their Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualification hopes with a resounding 96-60 victory over Madagascar’s GNBC, improving their record to 2-1 in the Road to BAL qualifiers.
The win boosts the Kenyan champions’ chances of advancing to the Elite 16 after coming into the clash with a 1-1 ratio, while GNBC had enjoyed a perfect 2-0 run until this encounter.
Thunder started strong, taking an early 10-5 lead, but GNBC quickly responded, narrowing the gap to 10-8 before Francis Ramanampamonjy Mory gave the Malagasy side a brief 12-11 lead. Thunder, however, would not be deterred. Albert Odero and Okall Koranga came off the bench and led an 11-point run that saw Thunder regain control, leading 22-11 and forcing GNBC into a timeout. Koranga was instrumental, scoring 11 points in just over five minutes as Thunder closed the first quarter with a commanding 29-12 advantage.
The second quarter presented some challenges for Thunder, as they struggled to score for almost four minutes, allowing GNBC to cut their lead from 17 points to nine. But Thunder quickly recovered, with Uchenna Iroegbu and Derrick Ogechi combining for seven points to extend the lead to 36-20 midway through the quarter. A 14-6 run in the latter stages of the period gave Thunder a comfortable 50-26 lead heading into halftime.
The first-half dominance proved crucial for Thunder, especially after suffering their first defeat in over ten months in their previous game against Urunani. GNBC fought back in the third quarter, narrowly outscoring Thunder 24-23, but the Kenyan side’s early lead ensured they remained in control. Coach Bradley Ibs took the opportunity to rotate his bench players in the final quarter, but even the reserves maintained the intensity, outscoring GNBC 23-10 to seal the win.
Thunder’s 11-point run at the end of the first quarter was the turning point, catching GNBC off-guard and forcing them to play catch-up for the remainder of the game. Koranga’s swift contributions in that crucial stretch changed the game’s momentum, and his overall performance, with 13 points and six rebounds, provided a steady foundation for Thunder’s victory.
While Derric Ogechi emerged as the game’s top scorer with 19 points, tied with Iroegbu, it was Koranga’s heroics in the opening quarter that set the tone for Thunder’s dominant display. GNBC, known for their proficiency from behind the arc, struggled mightily with their shooting, converting just 8-of-33 attempts (24.2%), while Thunder enjoyed a far better success rate, hitting 13-of-24 (54.2%) from three-point range.
Looking ahead, both teams now face decisive final-day matchups. Nairobi City Thunder, with their qualification hopes still alive, will need to secure a win against hosts JKT, while GNBC’s chances depend on a victory against unbeaten Urunani.
Speaking after the game, GNBC’s Solonirina Ndranto acknowledged the challenge his side faced. “This being our third consecutive match, we were a bit tired and despite starting well, we couldn’t keep up and they took a huge lead before we could adjust. This is the first loss of the competition and we still have a chance to qualify. We go up against a tough side but we will bring our best game and see what happens.”
Thunder’s hero of the day, Okall Koranga, reflected on the importance of the win. “This was a must-win match for us and we executed as expected for victory. Having missed the opening two matches, I am glad to have stepped up when called upon to help the team win. This is not the first time I was playing against GNBC, and that gave me some leverage as, in addition to watching their film from the last two matches here, I knew how to handle a few of the players from experience in previous meetings. We take the same momentum to the final match as we look to qualify.”
With their campaign still alive, Nairobi City Thunder will head into their final game full of determination, knowing that one more victory could see them take the next step on their journey to the Basketball Africa League.
