Reigning champions Nairobi City Thunder and former holders Kenya Ports Authority have booked their slots in the final battle for the 2026 Kenya Basketball Federation Men's Premier League title. The two sides won their respective best-of-five series matches to secure their places in the final. Thunder, seeking to defend their title and extend their reign to three years, defeated Stanbic Shields 3-0, while Kenya Ports Authority saw off Equity Dumas by the same margin.
Thunder's victory was marked by a dominant display in their game three match against Shields, which they won 88-65 at Nyayo Gymnasium. Derrick Ogechi led Thunder with 23 points, while captain Tylor Ongwae added 20 points. Eugine Adera and Garang Diing also had a good outing, scoring 12 and 11 points respectively. Shields' Griffin Ligate, a former Thunder star, top-scored for his team with 13 points, and Lenson Kisia added 11 points.
The match against Shields was marked by a dominant display in the second quarter, which Thunder won 23-8, stretching their advantage to 21 points at half-time. The third and fourth quarters were evenly contested, with Thunder scoring only two points more than Shields in the second half. This victory marked a clean sweep for Thunder in the series.
Kenya Ports Authority also had a convincing win against Equity Dumas, triumphing 82-56 in game three to end the series 3-0. Jshin Brownlee anchored KPA to victory with 15 points, while Tobias Odhiambo and Trevor Opiyo complemented his effort with 12 and 10 points respectively. Rodney Sande top-scored for Dumas with 11 points, one more than Jordan Pipkin.
KPA dominated the duel from the onset, taking the first quarter 17-10. Both sides improved in the second quarter, but the dockers controlled the game, scoring 22 points against Dumas' 14 to take a 39-24 half-time lead. They sealed the win in the third quarter after taking it 32-15. Although Dumas won the fourth quarter 17-11, it was too little, too late to save their campaign.
The victories set up a thrilling final match between Thunder and KPA, with both teams seeking to claim the title. Thunder are looking to successfully defend their title, while KPA are seeking to reclaim the championship. The two teams have shown impressive form throughout the series, and their final match is expected to be highly competitive.
The final match between Thunder and KPA is set to be an epic encounter, with both teams having demonstrated their skills and determination throughout the series. The Kenya Basketball Federation Men's Premier League has seen a high level of competition this season, and the final match is expected to be a fitting conclusion to the tournament.
Key points
- Nairobi City Thunder and Kenya Ports Authority won their semi-finals series to set up a thrilling final in the Kenya Basketball Federation Men's Premier League.
