Nairobi City Thunder Stumble Against Dar City in Basketball Africa League (BAL) Opener
Nairobi City Thunder’s highly anticipated return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) got off to a rocky start on Saturday, as a late-game collapse saw the Kenyan champions suffer a narrow 90-85 defeat to Tanzania’s Dar City at the SunBet Arena.
Despite an electric start that saw Thunder establish a comfortable 13-point cushion in the second quarter, costly turnovers and a drop in intensity allowed the tournament newcomers to claw their way back. Head Coach Bradley Ibs’ charges went into the halftime break with a slim 50-46 lead, powered by early offensive bursts from Eugene Adera, Ariel Koranga, and Derrick Ogechi. However, Dar City flipped the script in the third quarter, opening with a devastating 7-0 run that set the stage for a tense, back-and-forth finale.
The game’s climax was nothing short of cinematic. With mere seconds left on the clock, Thunder center Lance Thomas pulled off what seemed to be a game-saving block on Michael Foster. Unfortunately for the Kenyan side, Foster immediately recovered the ball and sank a dagger three-pointer, sparking a 5-0 run that completely dismantled Thunder’s hopes of a winning start in the Kalahari Conference.
Dar City was propelled by an unstoppable David Michineau, who orchestrated the floor beautifully to finish with a game-high 39 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Nisre Zouzoua added a vital 20 points for the Tanzanian side, who now sit at a comfortable 2-0 following their earlier win against the Johannesburg Giants.
On the opposing end, Thunder sorely missed the explosive presence of forward Albert Odero, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Captain Tylor Ongwae stepped up to lead the scoring for the Kenyan outfit with 18 points, but acknowledged that the team’s late-game execution left much to be desired.
“It’s a tough loss, just like last year,” Ongwae admitted in his post-match remarks. “The difference between the two teams was their energy; they were able to finish strong. We were 12 or 13 points ahead, but they came back. We need to build on today’s loss because we still have four games left to regroup.”
For Nairobi City Thunder, the mission remains clear. If they are to achieve their historic goal of becoming the first Kenyan team to punch a ticket to the BAL playoffs in Kigali, they must quickly address their ball-handling woes and late-game stamina. The team will look to quickly redeem themselves as they face off against hosts Johannesburg Giants on Sunday.
