Redemption in Pretoria: Nairobi City Thunder Show Grit to Sink Johannesburg Giants and Secure First BAL Victory
Nairobi City Thunder banished the ghosts of their opening-day collapse to claim their first-ever victory in the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference, grinding out a hard-fought 71-65 win over hosts Johannesburg Giants on Sunday evening at the SunBet Arena.
Just 24 hours after a devastating late-game capitulation against Dar City, the Kenyan champions found themselves starring down a dangerously similar script. After dominating the first half to establish a comfortable 43-31 cushion at the break, Thunder’s momentum completely evaporated in the third quarter. The South African hosts capitalized on defensive lapses and poor rebounding from the Kenyan side, embarking on a 21-9 run to completely erase the 12-point deficit and level the scores at 52-52 heading into the final frame.
However, unlike Saturday’s heartbreak, Coach Bradley Ibs’ men refused to crumble. Displaying immense character and tactical composure, Thunder tightened their defensive rotations and managed the ball with much more care in the fourth quarter. They outscored the Giants 19-13 in the decisive final period to seal a crucial 71-65 triumph, improving their group phase record to 1-1 and leaving the tournament hosts winless at 0-2.
With key guard Albert Odero still sidelined by a lingering hamstring strain, Thunder’s starting five struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm. Instead, the lifeline came from an inspired second unit that contributed a massive 38 points.
Garang Diing was the undisputed star of the night, erupting off the bench to pour in a game-high 24 points. Captain Tylor Ongwae provided veteran leadership with 12 points, while Lance Thomas chipped in with 10. Davis Shaheed also made his presence felt in the paint, pulling down eight rebounds to go with his eight points.
On the opposing end, the Johannesburg Giants were kept in the contest by Jakobi Terrell Heady, who dropped 20 points despite the team’s struggles from beyond the arc. Joshua Ozabor added 18 points, while powerhouse forward Nkosinathi Sibanyoni was a menace on the glass, recording a monstrous double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds.
The victory keeps Thunder’s historic dream of reaching the BAL playoffs in Kigali very much alive. The Kenyan outfit now enjoys a well-deserved two-day break before facing their toughest test yet: a high-stakes clash against Angolan heavyweights Petro de Luanda on Wednesday, April 1.
