Giants Co-operative Bank and Eagle Wings savour League victory

By Erick Ochieng’

Co-operative Bank reaffirmed their prowess in club basketball when they chalked up their third league title in a row on Sunday by beating USIU Tigers.

This marked the official end of the 2012 Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) leagues. Also uncorking the champaign bottle are women champions Eagles Wings and Nairobi Aviation.

Co-op Bank won two of the best of three games in the playoff against the USIU Tigers to clinch the men’s Premier League.

Eagle Wings triumphed 2-0 to claim the women’s title against USIU Flames while Nairobi Aviation posted 2-1 victory to clinch the men’s Division One title from the Nakuru Club.

At the same time Martin Okwako of Co-op Bank and Hilda Indasi of Flames were voted Most Valuable Players for the 2012 edition.

Best Defensive Player award went to Evelyn Nora of Eagle Wings and Kevin Kigotho of Tigers. Co-op Bank coach Carey Odhiambo and USIU’s George Mayienga got the Coach of the Year gongs in the men and women categories.

Division One awards went to Gilbert Obiero of Kenyatta University (best defensive), Byron Job of Nairobi Aviation (MVP) and Gitau Waringo (best coach).

The finalists in both men and women’s premier automatically qualified for the regional Fiba Africa Zone Five championship next year.KBF chairman Paul Otula said his federation was contented with the league, which he said was more than competitive this year.

The chairman is appealing to sponsors and well-wishers to come forth and sponsor the leagues as well as the teams who will be representing Kenya at the international level.

KBF is also promising to facilitate the already qualified teams with technical and moral supports at the same time challenging the teams to work hard to justify the funds donated by sponsors when they go to represent Kenya outside.

KBF treasurer Peter Orero said that the women’s and men’s national teams to represent Kenya in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next year will be named today before starting training this week  and  breaking camp during Christmas holiday.

“Ronny Owino and Phillip Onyango will be in charge of the women’s team while Francis Lunjiri and Peter Kiganya will take care of the men side,” said Orero.

Orero added that all the national referees will be vetted and upgraded after the forthcoming clinics that will be held in coast, western, Nairobi and eastern regions. This, he said, will help in taking the Kenyans basketball to some new heights.

“We want our referees to be compliant with the new rules that were introduced by Fiba in 2011,” said Orero.