Thunder crash Mozambique's Ferroviario da Beira to clinch BAL slot
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 23.11.25. | 10:20
For the second game in a row, Albert Odero led the two-time Kenyan champions in scoring with 32 points, 26 of which came in the opening half
Infront of a packed crowd at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium in Nairobi, the City Thunder basketball team made history by beating Mozambique's Ferroviario da Beira 109–70 to secure their place in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The Kenyan champions, coached by Bradley Ibs and making their debut in the premier African men's club competition last year, repeated the feat by qualifying at home. They became the first team in this year's East Division Elite 16 to hit a century in points.
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For the second game in a row, Albert Odero led the two-time Kenyan champions in scoring with 32 points, 26 of which came in the opening half, despite staying on the floor for just under 24 minutes.
He opened his account with a fast-break layup and added back-to-back threes in the opening five minutes, completing the opening quarter with 10 points in a 22–12 outcome. Thunder's perimeter shooting continued to carry them through, with Odero and Tyler Ongwae extending their lead to 33–21.
Thunder continued to dominate, winning the third quarter 30–20, with Odero scoring 16 points as the hosts took a 20-point lead (52–32) into the half-time break.
Celio Chirombe opened the third quarter, but, unlike in previous matches, Beira could not find a solution to NCT's transition offence. Eugene Adera and Lance Thomas joined Odero in running up the score for an impressive 31–16 quarter, making it 83–48.
Encouraged by the 35-point lead, coach Ibs fielded his reserve players for the final quarter.
David Deng Kongor Deng took charge, scoring three from deep to take the team to 99 points. Youngster Powell Owino beat two of his markers, driving to the basket to take the hosts over the 100-point mark as they played for a 26–22 quarter to secure victory.
NCT dominated the paint 56–32, leading by as many as 40 points at one stage. Their efficiency in rebounding made all the difference in defence, but they were outrebounded 17-11 offensively.
Nevertheless, the hosts still managed to outscore Beira 16–12 on second chance points.
"When we started this Elite 16 journey, we had the message of unfinished business in BAL since we didn't play so well last year and it was our mission to get back and represent ourselves better.
We are happy to get the ticket but this is just the first step for us. We have been working hard for this since June of last year, through the league and in camp the last five weeks, and it feels satisfying to be here.
Tonight was really electric and it showed what Kenyan basketball means to the sporting community here," Thunder head coach Ibs said after the feat.
Thunder are now set to face the other side to qualify from the East Division Elite 16, Johannesburg Giants in the final set for Sunday, 23 November from 7 pm. The third-place match set for 4:30 pm pits star-studded Dar City against Ferroviario da Beira.
