Thunder keen to maintain winning momentum in quest for KBF trophy

As the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) league playoffs draw close, unbeaten Nairobi City Thunder head coach Brad Ibs says his charges are motivated to clinch the elusive title.

Now under new management, the Shauri Moyo-based side has dominated the league and any other competition they have set foot in, recently being crowned Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament champions.

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After their victory over Equity Bank Dumas in the final of the tournament that had brought together the best six teams in the league, Ibs admitted his charges were shaky but, in a quick reminder, admits it was a great boost, having to withstand such pressure to win in over time, ahead of the playoffs.

“We were not as good in this final. We weren’t shooting or rebounding as well as we do. Kudos to the players because they found a way to win. Equity have an excellent team and they pushed us all the way. Coming back to win in such dramatic fashion is good as it improves our self-belief. We will build on this momentum in the playoffs, that we expect to be very competitive,” the tactician added.

The side boasts a star-studded squad led by veteran guard Griffin Ligare, one of only two players who featured for Thunder before this season’s throw-off and look well set on winning their first championship.

“We have gone undefeated and now have a target on our backs,” Ibs offered adding that his charges are well aware of that and keep adjusting their style of play to fit whoever the opponent is. “The fundamentals are there but we also get to craft our game based on who the opponent is. This, and the need to preserve some of the key players for the playoffs informed our fielding during the tournament so there is no cause for worry.”

Thunder have come close once, losing the playoffs’ best-of-five final to Ulinzi Warriors in the 2019 league season.