KPA renew rivalry with Equity Hawks in Africa Women's Basketball League quarters

KPA's Victoria Reynolds in action during their final Group A match against Sporting. [FIBA]

The Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) quarter-finals in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, are set to be a thrilling showdown, with eight teams vying for the coveted title.

Among these contenders, only Alexandria Sporting Club and Inter Clube have previously lifted the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) trophy.

However, the focus turns to the highly anticipated clash between Kenyan rivals, Equity Bank Hawks and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). This domestic derby promises intense action, and the stakes are high. The winner advances, while the loser faces relegation to the AWBL Fifth-Place series.

What adds intrigue to this Kenyan showdown is that it takes place on neutral ground, thousands of miles away from their home country.

KPA enters the Quarter-Finals with a 3-1 record, while Equity Bank Hawks secured their spot with a 2-2 mark. Players to watch include KPA's trio of Victoria Reynolds, Madina Okot (if she recovers from injury), and Hilda Indasi. Meanwhile, DR Congo's Malu Grace has been a standout for the Hawks, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.

On paper, KPA appears stronger, but in the quarter-finals, anything can happen, making this clash one of the most exciting and crucial games in the history of these Kenyan teams.

In the other quarter-finals matchups, Alexandria Sporting Club, the reigning African champions, enters as a formidable favorite against Overdose Up Station. Alexandria Sporting Club obliterated their Group A opponents with an average margin of over 50 points per game.

Nigeria Customs, making their first continental appearance in over two decades, faces a stern test in the form of five-time African champions, Inter Clube. Despite finishing their Group A campaign with a 2-2 record, Customs is determined to make a mark in the AWBL. Inter Clube, on the other hand, views their earlier loss to REG in Group B as a valuable lesson and remains focused on clinching their first African title since 2016.