Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder surprisingly handed Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers their first defeat of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) season six Kalahari Conference, defeating them 101-92, finishing fifth on the log, not qualifying for playoffs, but wrapping up the South Africa tour with pride.
Speaking at the Sunbet Arena in Pretoria on Sunday after their final match, Thunder's head coach Brad Ibs had no regrets, vowing to come back stronger next season.
“We have played some good basketball in this tournament. Despite not qualifying for the play-offs, we have improved on last year’s performance. We will work on our mistakes, and we will be a solid team,” Ibs told the media.
The Nairobi based side will miss started their campaign in Pretoria losing to neighbors Dar City from Tanzania, won against Johannesburg Giants, lost against Angola's Petro De Luanda and Libya's Al Ahli Ly and finally won against Rwanda's Tigers, making it 2-3 and finishing out of the top four brackets who will go to Kigali in May this year for the play offs.
Derrick Ogechi scored a high 22 points (including 14 in the final half) for the Brad Ibs guided side, as teammate Joshua Nzeakor had 21 points with eight rebounds, Tylor Ogwae 17 points and Lance Thomas netted 14 points to lead the scoring charts for the side from Kenya.
