KPA go down to Fap in first match

Fiba Africa Zone V Clubs Basketball Champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) commenced their continental campaign on wrong footing by losing their opening game to Fap Basketball of Cameroun at Maxaquene Arena in Maputo, Mozambique on Friday evening.

KPA, who had psyched themselves for the 22nd edition of the tournament, lost 43-57 to Fap Basketball of Cameroun who had showed intention of winning the encounter from the onset.

KPA were a pale shadow of themselves in the initial quarter which saw them go down with a big margin of 5-13.

The dockers then attempted to rise in the second and their efforts were rewarded with a slim victory of 16-14 before the sides proceeded for break.

KPA were expected to carry on with the good run on resumption for the third quarter but this was not to be as the West Africans thwarted all their efforts to loop.

Astride Gano Njiogap who had over 13 plus efficiency including three rebounds on the court led Fap to bag the third period 21-8.

KPA then woke up in the fourth quarter of the event and with the help of Mercy Ayitso Wanyama, who registered three rebounds and ten plus efficiency, they were able to win the period 14-9.

Njiogap shot 17 points for the Fap while Wanyama managed 15 for the dockers. KPA had beefed up their squad with two lethal players namely Samba Mjomba and Hilda Indasi who are past Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Most Valuable Players ahead of the championships.

Despite the loss, KPA coaches Anthony Ojukwu and his assistant Phillip Onyango were hopeful to bounce back in their second game against hosts Ferroviario Maputo tonight (Sunday).

“Our players had stage fright in the opening quarter and we failed to relax in the entire match. We had so many missed chances and turnovers. We must shoot the ball more from now. We have noted our mistakes. We are going to rectify them before we get back on the court again,” Onyango said.

KPA is grouped in Pool A alongside Ferroviaro Maputo (Mozambique), Inter Club (Angola), FAP (Cameroun) and Etoile Filante (Togo).

Another Kenyan side, the United States International University (USIU) is in Pool B alongside defending champions Primeiro de Agosto (Angola), First Bank (Nigeria), Clube De Desportos D’a’Politecnica (Mozambique) and Groupement Sportif (Algeria).

USIU open their title campaign this evening against Clube De Desportos D’A’Politecnica and head coach George Mayienga is hopeful that they will scrap a win against the hosts.