Awuor stars as Maseno Dukes kicks off Kisumu Classic Basketball League with wins

Maseno Dukes Sila Awuor (center) in action during KCBL match against Urbanville in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Sila Awuor scored 23 and 15 points respectively as 2019 runners up Maseno Dukes kick started this year’s Kisumu Classic Basketball League (KCBL) on a high note after winning their two opening matches played on Sunday in Kisumu.

Returning after more than one year out, KCBL resumed under strict Covid-19 protocols with five matches played at Manyatta Arabs Primary School within Kisumu Town.

In the opening match, reining KCBL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awuor bagged 23 points and six assists with his teammate Allan Kibira adding 17 points as Maseno Dukes narrowly edged out defending champions Kisumu All Stars 50-49.

Trevor Gari led All Stars with 13 points in the defeat followed by Emmanuel ‘LaMelo’ Ball following with 11 points and five rebounds.

In the second match, Awuor led a resurgent Dukes team in a 46-44 comeback win against Urbanville with 15 points in his name.

Kibira again followed in second with 12 points as Fidel Ochieng (12 points) and Dan Odhiambo (7) led the charts for Urbanville.

Platinum forward Chris Kinyua (right) in action during KCBL match against Adili Titans in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

The two victories fired Maseno to the top of the league on four points, same as Adili Titans, who also won all their two matches of the first round.

Adili beat Urbanville 38-33 in their first match before seeing off Platinum 50-38 in a match that witnessed veteran Chris Kinyua exploding with three 3-pointers for Platinum.

In the final match of the day, Kisumu All Stars would bounce back to winning ways after thrashing Platinum 63-48.

Gari, who was kept quiet in the opening match against Dukes exploded with 22 points with Ball adding 10 points for their first win of the campaign.

Kennedy Okumu and Basil Ogembo finished with 15 and eight points respectively to lead Platinum score chats.

KCBL Director Brian Lusaga said 11 clubs across Nyanza and Western regions have already confirmed participation with only three teams yet to communicate.

However, Lusaga said high school teams which showed interest to play in the league this year will not be allowed to play as per the Ministry of Education regulations.

“Due to the Covid-19 guidelines, high school teams that had been in the league last season and had shown interest will not be able to join the league this season,” he added.

Kamusinga Boys from Bungoma County, Onjiko Boys from Kisumu County and Sigalame Boys from Busia County will miss this year’s league.

2021 KCBL Round One Results

Maseno Dukes 50-49 Kisumu All-stars

Urbanville 44-46 Maseno dukes

Adili 38-33Urbanville

Platinum 38-50 Adili titans

Kisumu All-star 63-48 platinum

Business
Premium Financial hardships dampen Easter celebrations among Kenyans
By Brian Ngugi 28 mins ago
Business
Premium Looming crisis as top lenders stare at Sh500b in bad loans
Business
Premium Water PS Korir put on the spot over Sh14m dam land
Business
Premium Ruto's food security hopes facing storm amid fake fertiliser scam