Reigning Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League champions Nairobi City Thunder moved to within one win of retaining their title after defeating former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 73-63 in Game Two of the 2026 playoff finals on Sunday evening at Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa.
Thunder, who won Game One 76-67 at the same venue on Saturday, now lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and will return to Nairobi with the opportunity to close out the championship on home court.
The Nairobi side started Game Two strongly, taking a 22-14 lead after the opening quarter before KPA responded in the second period. Thunder still held a 39-35 advantage at halftime.
KPA continued to fight after the break and edged ahead 52-51 at the end of the third quarter. The hosts then twice levelled the contest at 56-56 and 60-60 in a closely fought final period.
With four minutes remaining, Thunder brought back Derrick Ogechi, who had earlier left the game after picking up an eye injury. His return proved decisive as Thunder pulled away from KPA.
With the score at 67-63 in Thunder’s favour, Ogechi delivered a crucial six-point burst, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead to double figures as the visitors closed out a 73-63 victory.
Ogechi, who was the MVP, credited his teammates and the team’s preparation for his impact during the decisive stages.
“We train for these moments every single day and practise so we are already built for these moments. Everyone knows what to do, and my teammates had me today and I was able to make some plays,” he said.
Thunder head coach Brad Ibs praised his players for maintaining their composure despite the challenges they faced during the game.
“I’m just so proud of their will to win. I felt like there was a lot that was going against us tonight and every time we came back into the huddle, it just felt like we had a really together group, a group that was really for each other. I think in the end they proved to be a group that refused to lose,” Ibs said.
KPA head coach Robert Mugabe conceded that his side struggled to match Thunder’s physicality and intensity.
“We couldn’t match the physicality today. They were much more aggressive, they wanted it more,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe, however, remains hopeful of extending the series, with the finals now moving to Nairobi.
“We have three games to go. We have to go to Nairobi and see if we can pull another two and push it to Game Five.”
The finals are being contested between Thunder and KPA for the third consecutive season, with Thunder seeking a third straight KBF Men’s Premier League championship.
After taking both games in Mombasa, Thunder can now seal the title in Game Three when they host KPA at Nyayo Gymnasium in Nairobi on Friday, October 2, 2026, from 8pm.
If KPA wins Game Three, Game Four will be played at Nyayo Gymnasium on Saturday, October 3, with a potential Game Five scheduled for Sunday, October 4. Both games are set for an 8pm tip-off.
