Nairobi City Thunder strike KPA to complete KNBL three-peat

Nairobi City Thunder have been crowned the National Men’s Basketball Premier League champions for the third successive season after completing a 3-0 sweep against arch-rivals Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the best-of-five final series.

The defending champions beat KPA 74-70 in Game Three at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi on Friday night to seal their third straight championship and extend their unbeaten run across three seasons.

Thunder had won the opening two games in Mombasa last weekend, taking Game One 78-67 before edging the Dockers 72-63 in Game Two.

KPA started Game Three strongly, taking the first quarter 27-18 as Thunder struggled to find their rhythm.

Thunder responded in the second quarter, narrowly winning 11-8 to reduce the deficit to six points at halftime, with KPA leading 35-29.

The champions returned from the break with renewed intensity, dominating the third quarter 24-13 to turn the game around and take a 53-48 lead heading into the final period.

KPA fought back in the fourth quarter, winning it 22-21, but Thunder held their nerve to secure the 74-70 victory and complete the clean sweep.

The triumph underlines Thunder’s dominance in the domestic league, having now gone three consecutive seasons without losing a game on their way to three successive titles.