NBA Kenya boss Finley lauds Thunder ahead of BAL qualifiers

Kenyan basketball powerhouse, Nairobi City Thunder are on everyone’s lips ahead of Elite 16 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers set for Thursday, November 28 to December 3 in Nairobi.

City Thunder, who won the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) title unbeaten last season after seven years of waiting, made history by securing a place in the Elite 16 of the BAL qualifiers on their maiden attempt.

They are scheduled to tip off the qualifiers against South African champions MBB Blue Soldiers on Thursday  from 8pm

Being the only Kenyan team in this prestigious Road to BAL Elite 16 tournament, many Kenyans habour huge hopes of Thunder making it to the next stage and National Basketball Association (NBA) Kenya boss Mike Finley says the giants have ignited fire in basketball in the country.

“Nairobi City Thunder have ignited fire in basketball in the country. I am excited about them as a team and l am excited about how other teams are seeing how a team should be run because they will follow. I am excited how they have developed the game,” Finley noted in an interview with Citizen TV.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Kenya boss says it will mean a lot for Kenyan basketball if Thunder qualify to the Elite 16 of BAL.

“I am really curious to see how they will do in this qualifier. If they do qualify, it will mean a lot for Kenyan basketball and l wish them the best.”

The tournament that bring together elite basketball teams across Africa will feature eight teams - Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), City Oilers (Uganda), the NBA Academy, Urunani BBC (Burundi), M.B.B (South Africa), Bravehearts Basketball (Zambia), Matero Magic (Malawi) and Fox Basketball Club (South Sudan).

The Bradley Ibs-coached side finished second in the Road to BAL East Division Group D qualifiers last month in Tanzania, earning a ticket to the final qualifying phase.

Thunder now join Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Ulinzi Warriors as the only Kenyan teams to reach the Elite 16, and they aim to make history by qualifying for the prestigious Basketball Africa League.