As it the case during day one of the Elite 16 tournament for the Road to the BAL, Nairobi City Thunder asserted their dominance on the second day, emphatically defeating Kriol 104-71 at Nyayo Stadium Indoor Arena on Friday evening.
That impressive victory maintains their hopes of becoming the first Kenyan team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League BAL.
On Day One at the same venue, City Thunder laid down the gauntlet when became the first team to score over 100 points after defeated South Africa’s MBB Blue Soldiers 102-59 following a dramatic comeback.
The match against Kriol was a thrilling contest, with the Cape Verdean team also fighting hard for their second win in this prestigious tournament which Kenya was granted the honour of hosting. The tournament will conclude on December 3.
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The game was level at 6-6 in the opening minutes before Tylor Ongwae exploded with 8 points, while Abdoulaye Harouna added five of his own to keep things exciting. Patrick McGlynn’s back-to-back three-pointers almost gave Kriol the lead, but City Thunder maintained their composure.
They finished the first quarter with a 24-16 lead.
The second quarter mirrored the first, but this time, Coach Ibs’ charges stepped up, surging ahead by 9 points and taking control at 33-24. Ajak Majok’s three-pointer and free throws pushed their score to 40, leaving Kriol scrambling.
At halftime, City Thunder led by a commanding 20 points, with the score standing at 51-31.
Kriol played their best basketball in the third quarter, but still trailed 21-17.
The hosts sealed their victory with a strong 32-20 performance in the final quarter ending the second with the highest points scored.
On Thursday, in the opening match, Harouna led the charge for Nairobi City Thunder, with Garang Deng contributing 16 points. Kennedy Wachira and Albert Odero made impactful contributions off the bench, each scoring 15 points.
Their efforts ensured Nairobi City Thunder took home 102 points on the first day of their quest for a ticket to the BAL.
Nairobi City Thunder will face Bravehearts on Sunday night, December 1st, in their final Group A match, with hopes of securing a spot in the semifinals on Monday at Kasarani.
A victory will not only secure a place in the final but also earn them a coveted ticket to the main BAL tournament.
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