BAL 2025: South Africa’s MBB rally to beat Thunder for first win in Nile Conference

Made by Mall Basketball (MBB) on Tuesday rallied to a stunning 75-74 win over the Nairobi City Thunder at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, in game day 3 of the Nile Conference in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, Afrosport reports.

Both teams entered Tuesday’s game in search of a first win in the Nile Conference, and the Thunder were on course to cruise to victory, but MBB fought back from an 18-point deficit for their maiden BAL win.

18-point comeback. 2 seconds on the clock. 1 unforgettable game-winner.
MBB grabs their first-ever BAL victory!!! #BAL5 pic.twitter.com/45Z5FKAgaJ

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 20, 2025

Robinson Opong clinched the win for South African-based MBB with a clutch game-winning three-pointer in the final three seconds of the game. The Ugandan, who was 2-for-6 from the field, finished the game with six points, having gone 2-5 from beyond the arc.

MBB, however, were led by Pieter Prinsloo’s spectacular 30-point and 11-rebound double-double performance, a BAL career high for the 33-year-old South African. He shot 11-for-17 from the floor as well as a career and game-high 5-of-9 from the 3-point line.

MONSTER performance from Pieter Prinsloo and a first win in the Nile Conference for MBB!
30 PTS, 11 REB and an INDEX of 35 #BAL5 pic.twitter.com/JHmnYgWfeI

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 21, 2025

Tesfale Lenard Jr had an efficient 20 points, six rebounds and five assists performance, and Jovan Mooring poured in 10 points and dished out five assists.

The Thunder, who remain without a win in all three games in the Nile Conference, were led by French-born Evans Ganapamo. The Central African Republic international scored 21 points, shooting 6-for-11 from the field, including 5-for-6 from deep.

Kenyan Tylor Ongwae had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists for Nairobi City, the bottom team in the Nile Conference.

Elsewhere, conference leaders Al Ahli Tripoli claimed their third consecutive win with a 90-68 blowout of Rwanda’s APR.

Nile Conference Standings Update
Al Ahli SC holds the top spot and stays undefeated… for now. #BAL5 pic.twitter.com/2kx45lyAUj

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 20, 2025