In a nail-biting finish at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi City Thunder clung to their undefeated streak, narrowly defeating Equity Dumas 67-66 in the Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament.
Garang Ding, the South Sudanese sensation, was the hero of the day, sinking a crucial shot with just four seconds remaining, propelling his team to victory and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Despite trailing slightly, Thunder’s perfect record was in jeopardy until Ding, who tallied 15 points, delivered the game-changing moment. Equity Dumas, not going down without a fight, called a timeout in hopes of regaining control, but their efforts were thwarted as Victor Bosire’s three-pointer rimmed out, and Davies Siaji’s rebound got stuck, marking the game’s end with the sound of the buzzer.
Equity Dumas, known for their close contests with Thunder in the Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League, staged an impressive comeback from a 26-point deficit, nearly clinching the win. Bosire led the charge with a game-high 21 points, supported by Marol Achei and Feisal Aden, both in double figures, and Eugene Adera contributing 12 points.
For Thunder, Ding stood out as the sole player to score in double digits, while Albert Odero had a rare off-game. Faheem Juma added nine points, all from beyond the arc.
Thunder initially appeared to be cruising to victory, leading 20-8 after the first quarter and 39-23 at halftime. However, Equity Dumas closed the gap to 59-47 by the end of the third quarter. The final quarter saw a dramatic shift as Bosire’s efforts brought Equity within striking distance, but Thunder managed to hold on, thanks to Ding’s last-minute heroics.
In another match, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) exacted revenge on Ulinzi Warriors with a 66-59 win, led by Martin Kitongo’s double-double and Job Byron’s scoring. Eric Mutoro shone for Ulinzi with 19 points.
The tournament continues with Thunder and Equity facing Strathmore, while KPA and Ulinzi take on USIU, all vying for top positions in their respective groups.
