League victory remains an illusion for Nakuru Club

KENYA BASKETBALL LEAGUE 2016 Nakuru Club's Fidel Ongola dribble ball past Brian Busu of Coop Bank during Kenya Basketball Federation League match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, May 29, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Nakuru Club are staring at relegation from the Kenya Basketball Federation Premier league.

Requiring a win to be assured of safety, they lost 63-70 to Lions at Menengai High School yesterday.

Coach Richard Kanda is a disturbed man after his team lost most of its key players to more established institutions in Nairobi. To him, this could be the reason for their dismal performance in all their matches this season.

The team has won only one out of 17 matches. Kanda's earlier assurance of winning the match to keep their hopes of surviving relegation went up in smoke when the Nairobi-side came back a rejuvenated side in the second quarter after a false start in the first.

Nakuru Club had won the first quarter 19-17, but lost 13-27 in the second. And despite winning the third quarter 21-8, they ran out of steam in the final quarter, when it mattered most.

Lions ran riot against the home-side in the fourth quarter, winning 18-9 and run away with maximum points as they subjected Nakuru to yet another painful and costly defeat. Even the home fans were expecting something better this time round. The losing had become part of their lives.

"It was just bad luck for my boys. They played their hearts out and I believe it was not our day," Kanda said.

Victor Ochieng of Lions topped the scorer's charts with 16 points, while James Okerio replied for the home team with 14 points.

Earlier, Daystar University defeated Egerton University 35-33 in a National Division Women League match at the same venue.

Daystar won the first quarter 16-10, but lost 4-5 in the second, but came back a strong side to narrowly win the third 11-10, while Egerton won the last quarter 8-4.

Celestine Makori and Sheila Shiruti of Egerton scored 12 and 10 points for their team, while Steffi Ngabire and Laura Makokha scored 15 and nine points for Daystar.