Equity teaches USIU vital lessons as Zetech varsity wins
Basketball
By
ERICK OCHIENG'
| Jan 23, 2017
Equity Bank destroyed defending champions United States International University (USIU) 51-40 in Game One of their Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Premier League semifinal playoff staged at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, at the weekend.
The students had taken a 21-19 lead at half time before the bankers, led by Mercy Wanyama and former national team captain Silalei Shani, turned tables after the breather.
The bankers started the duel on a high note by bagging the opening quarter 10-4. The students swooped on the second quarter to win with a whoopping 17-9 points.
Equity put their house in order on resumption to take a 14-9 win in the third. They carried on with the good run to win the last quarter 18-10.
Wanyama contributed 13 points as Shanie added ten to the victors. Burundian import Cynthia Irankunda scored 14 for the varsity side.
USIU head coach George Mayienga said his side is yet to fully recover after a packed fixture last year but was hopeful winning Game Two which was slated at the venue last evening.
“We are gradually regaining our fitness levels and hopefully we will make it to the final,” said Mayienga.
Equity head coach David Maina said they are taking the clash seriously as they have a mission to smash the semis finals barrier that has always been their undoing in the league.
Maina said they are targeting the final to match their highest achievement last season. Interestingly, it is the same USIU, who edged them in the last year’s playoffs in the semis.
At the same time , Zetech University won their men’s Division One semis playoff Game One 74-53 after taking a 34-19 lead at half time. Zetech won the quarters 18-13, 16-6, 21-1017-24 with the help of Chris Oluk (22 points), Joshua Kisali (13), and Jeremy Opiyo (12). Nicholas Ogol had ten for Umoja.