NAIROBI City Thunder coach Brad Ibs has his sights set on making history for Kenyan basketball as his team debuts in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in Kigali on Tuesday.
Ibs believes the team is ready for the continental stage, crediting intense preparation behind the scenes.
“There has been a massive collective team effort for late nights and early mornings, and all the contributions add up to the preparations. We look to make the country proud when we go to compete,” he said.
Last year, Thunder held off a late surge from Uganda’s City Oilers to secure a 72-62 win and punch the final ticket from the East Division Elite 16 to the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The victory saw Thunder make history as the first Kenyan team to qualify for the BAL, accomplishing the milestone in their debut appearance on the Road to BAL.
Known for their high-end style of play, Thunder has built a system that thrives on quick transitions and bench power.
“We love to be a competitive team that plays fast offensively and defensively. We are excited because we have a versatile team of the first five and the next in line on the bench. I believe we can make adjustments and depth based on the quality of adjustments we have on the team,” he said.
