Road to BAL: Dominant Thunder roar past Kriol to win East Division Elite 16
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 03.12.24. | 22:16
The two sides had already qualified for the 2025 edition set for April all through to May
National basketball champions Nairobi City Thunder head to the fifth edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as the East Division Elite 16 champions.
This, after seeing off Cape Verdians Kriol Star 99-86 in the final of the East Division Elite 16 played on Tuesday 3 December at Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The two sides had already qualified for the fifth edition of the premier African men's club competition, where both are making their debuts in their first attempt and were playing for rankings.
The hosts raced to a 14-11 early but the Islanders kept things close, the first quarter ending 27-22 in favour of Brad Ibs' charges.
In a half that had seven lead changes and two ties, most in the opening quarter, Thunder went 30-19 in the second quarter, Ariel Okall leading the charge with 11 points to see Thunder take a 57-41 lead heading to the locker rooms.
"It has been an amazing experience going 5-0 Infront of our our fans who kept showing up for us each game," head coach Bradley Ibs said.
Ibs charges went 23-16 in the third quarter to put daylight between them and the Cape Verdians, whose team has only been in existence for less than a year. Ones never to give up, the Hugo Da Silva Salgado-coached Islanders unsuccessfully attempted a comeback, going 29-19 in the last period, Thunder's earlier cushion coming to their rescue.
Garang Diing shot 4-of-5 from range to lead the side on 20 points, two more than Ken Wachira who dropped one more than Okall.
The hero of the show, however, was Eugene Adera who finished with a game-high 31 in efficiency having shot a rare double-double of 14 assists and 12 points, adding six defensive rebounds and as many steals in the win.
"It has been an exciting run playing here. We have kept each other motivated through the preparation process and in the games and we are happy to qualify as the best team from the Division," Diing said.
The two sides turn their focus to next year's BAL, with the three Conferences set to be played on April and May while the playoffs are set for June in South Africa.
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