Road to BAL: Thunder's final push for Elite 16 slot
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 20.10.24. | 09:00
Action concludes today with qualified teams getting three weeks to prepare for the last qualification phase
Nairobi City Thunder head to their final Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) East Division Group D qualifiers match against hosts JKT, from 7 PM (EAT), with high hopes of qualification.
The Bradley Ibs-coached side has picked two wins in three matches, beating Seychellois Beau Vallon Heat 89-53 in their opener, falling to Burundi's Urunani 89-88 before bouncing back with a 96-60 show over Madagascar's GNBC.
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Thunder need a win against the hosts, but qualification for the Elite 16, the final qualifying phase for the premier African club competition, could depend on results from the opening match pitting unbeaten Urunani against GNBC.
"JKT are very intense in the way they play. They remind me of the Ulinzi Warriors in our local league: super intense, aggressive, and physical, and we will know right away if we are ready to meet that kind of physicality. There is no room for complacency, as we know what's at stake. We need a good, strong win to advance, and there is no better motivation," coach Ibs told Mozzart Sport.
The top two teams in the group advance to the Elite 16 set to tip-off, tentatively on 12 November. Thunder are hoping to have a perfect run to make history as the first Kenyan side to make it to BAL in its fifth edition.
Coach Ibs believes their depth will give them an advantage in today's game, adding that the side has improved with each game.
"Over the course of these games, the players have continued to gel as we are still new as a squad, and it is impressive to see how well they are pulling up for each other. On Saturday we got to use more of the second team players, and I was impressed with their performance but not surprised as we see them execute every day in practice. We are hoping to have everyone switched on for the final match," Ibs added.
The hosts are chasing victory for six points, but qualification is only possible should they muster a win big enough to bridge the point difference as they would be tied with the opponent, as well as GNBC, in the event of a loss to Urunani. They head to the match on a -34, while Thunder have a 66-point advantage.
"We respect NCT, but we are confident we can match them. It will be a fight, but we have a game plan and are ready to take them head-on," JKT's Amin Mkosa offered.
