No slowing down for City Thunder as new season tips off

Nairobi City Thunder head coach Brad Ibs has applauded his boys for their stellar performance in Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) men’s premier league opener over the weekend.

Thunder, who are the defending champions, thumped rookies N.B.K 103-71 in their first match of the season last weekend.

 “It was a great opportunity for us, we did pretty well in terms of scoring and at the same time we all walked away from that thinking there are things we can make better especially on our defensive efforts, rebounding and things like that."

Thunder’s offseason has seen them rope in talented players from the domestic league and abroad, as they aim to qualify for this season’s Basketball Africa League (BAL).

The new arrivals include Kenyans Tylor Okari Ongwae, Eugene Adera, Derrick Mekenye Ogechi and Tom Bush Wamukota.

The others are Nigerian Uchenna Onyekachi Iroegbu – and American William Sidney Davis II.

 “It’s been interesting that we have had a mixture of players in our practices both those who are primarily focused on the road to BAL and then those who are committed to playing the KNBL.

“Those focused on the premier league had a lot of time just working together,” Ibs added.

Thunder had also signed Michel Diogoye Diouf from Senegal, but the player terminated his contract before he could even begin the new season and went back to Denmark.

In his place, they signed Kenyan international Tom Bush Wamukota from APR of Rwanda.