Roaring KPA dismantle Tanzania’s Lioness as Ulinzi, USIU scrapes wins

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) became the first side to whiz past a century by beating Don Bosco Lioness of Tanzania 114-63 at the ongoing Fiba Africa Zone V Clubs Basketball Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The match had seemed tense at the start which was compounded by the cheers and jeers that emanated from inside the National Stadium Indoor Arena. The presence of KPA coaches, Anthony Ojukwu and his assistant Phillip Onyango alongside the touch line injected confidence in the dockers who went head-on to open the floodgates of scores through field captain Natalie Akinyi.

Akinyi sleekly looped a two pointer which the hosts quickly replied with a massive three pointer from Jasmin Bablia. The crowd went frenzy. The aura in the gymnasium became tenser.

Ojukwu gave a shout from the touchlines. It was as if he was speaking to Betty Kananu who rose, got the cue, cruised past two opponents to sink another two pointer for the dockers. Amina Ahmed replied this with a point score for the hosts. A minute later it was Kananu again on the score sheet. Then it was Ahmed who replied to close the deficit.

The crowd went frenzy with this initial see-saw affair. Don Bosco fans increased tempo of their drum beats and their songs became louder and louder, inspiring their side to go for the jugular. But would they manage? If only songs and drum beats could grant victory then the Lioness would have been crowned the champions for the match.

But as fate would have it, the tables were turned, KPA became deaf to the loud singing, dancing and the deafening drumbeats that rocked the air; they defied odds and started to rain points against the opponents.

The dockers ended the first quarter with 31-19 win. Ojukwu’s presence at the touchline was the secret. His looming figure gave KPA hope and kept sanity in the team as his side again toyed with the hosts to win the second quarter 27-12 before the break.

Don Bosco fans continued to keep hope alive; they kept cheering and inspiring their side even at half time, encouraging the Lioness to carry on even if she was being dismantled. The teams resumed for the third quarter and again the hosts failed miserably against roaring KPA who were now under guidance of Falmas Adhiambo and Linet Atieno.

KPA won the quarter 29-19. The last show became an easy one for KPA as Don Bosco Lioness had lost hope; the dockers displayed their techniques and tested all the skills and even the hard tricks in the book to win the last round 27-13.

Adhiambo and Atieno gave the dockers 15 points apiece while Ahmed made a game high of 29 points for the opponents. Onyango said their aim in Tanzania is to go back with trophy home.

“We have a strong bench power, our presence here is to take this trophy back home,” said Onyango.

This was KPA’s second victory in the championship having edged Ubumwe of Rwanda 62-51 in the women round robin tournament on Saturday evening. Ulinzi Warriors also put their woes aside to earn their first win in the men’s pool B contest against ABC of Tanzania.

Ulinzi who had earlier lost 93-55 to City Oilers in their opening game defeated ABC 81-71. The United States International University (Usiu) also got their first win at the tournament by defeating Uganda Christian University (UCU) 81-58 in a men’s pool A encounter.

Fact Box

KPA  114

63 Don Bosco Lioness (Tanzania)

Quarter 1: 31

19

Quarter 2: 27

12

Quarter3: 29

19

Quarter 4: 27

13

USIU 81

 

 

58 UCU (Uganda)

Quarter 1: 16

18

Quarter 2: 24

13

Quarter3: 17

16

Quarter 4: 20

11

 

 

Ulinzi 81 71 ABC (Tanzania)

Quarter 1: 18

08

Quarter 2: 31

15

Quarter3: 14

25

Quarter 4: 18

23