Road to BAL
- Namuwongo Blazers 62-89 Nairobi City Thunder
Fresh from celebrating their first-ever National Basketball League championship, the Namuwongo Blazers were handed a harsh reality check on Tuesday after falling 89–62 to Nairobi City Thunder in the Road to BAL clash at Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The Blazers opened the game with confidence. Anthony Chukwurah set the tone with an easy layup, and Jovan Mooring followed with back to back three pointers to guide Namuwongo to a 25–23 lead after the first quarter.
But the early momentum didn’t last. Tonny Drileba’s late three-pointer tied the game at 40–40 with just 32 seconds left in the second quarter, only for Thunder’s Lace Robert Thomas to respond instantly with a step back jumper that sent the hosts into halftime up 43–40.
From there, the game slipped away from the Ugandan champions.
Thunder turned up the tempo and pressed aggressively, forcing Namuwongo into a flurry of turnovers. Struggling to keep control of the ball, the Blazers fell behind 67–51 heading into the fourth quarter.
The hosts dominated the final period, stretching their lead comfortably as Namuwongo’s frustrations grew, highlighted by a rough night at the free throw line, where the Blazers converted just 14 of 26 attempts.
Thunder’s balanced scoring made the difference, with Lance Robert Thomas dropping 18 points, Albert Odero adding 16, Derrick Mekenye 14, and Tylor Ongwae 13.
For Namuwongo, Mooring finished with 15 points while James Okello chipped in 11.
Despite the setback, the Blazers still have a chance to reset.
Steven Nyeko’s team returns to action on Wednesday, November 19, against Johannesburg Giants at Kasarani, hopeful of rediscovering the rhythm that powered their entry to the Elite 16.
