Nairobi City Thunder moved within one victory of retaining the Kenya Basketball Federation Men's Premier League title after beating Kenya Ports Authority 73-63 in Game Two of the 2026 play-off finals at the Makande Gymnasium on Sunday. The defending champions now lead the best-of-five series 2-0, having also taken Saturday's opener 76-67.
Thunder raced to a 22-14 lead in the first quarter and carried a 39-35 advantage into the interval. KPA edged ahead 52-51 by the end of the third, then drew level at 56-56 and 60-60 before the decisive late run. Derrick Ogechi, returning from treatment for an eye injury with four minutes left, hit consecutive three-pointers and six unanswered points to seal the win. His performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award.
Ogechi credited the team's preparation for the late surge. "We train for these moments every single day. Everyone understands their role, and my teammates trusted me. I was able to step up and make the plays we needed," he said. Head coach Brad Ibs praised his side's unity. "Every time we came together in the huddle, the players stayed connected. In the end, they showed they were a team that simply refused to lose," Ibs said.
KPA coach Robert Mugabe conceded the physical battle. "We couldn't match their physicality today. They were more aggressive and showed greater intensity," he said, while insisting the series remains open. Game Three is scheduled for the Nyayo Gymnasium in Nairobi on Friday, October 2, 2026, with tip-off at 8.00 pm.
