Kenyan teams register mixed results in tourney

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Kenyan teams posted mixed results as FIBA Africa Zone Five Club basketball championships entered day four yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Kenya Ports Authority men’s team lost their second match, which put their chances of making it to the knock-out stages in obvious doubt.

The dockers, who lost their opening match to Rwanda Energy Group 85-50 on Sunday, defeated EWSA of Ethiopia 85-50 in their second game, before losing 65-50 to South Sudan’s Cobra in their third match.

However, despite the loss, head coach Sammy Kiki has promised a better performance in their remaining matches.

In the KPA against Cobra match, the dockers started well but run out of steam after one of their dependable shooters was sent off after committing five fouls.

The Sudanese who appeared well coordinated all through, led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.

KPA never recovered from that trail posting 13-11 at the end of the second quarter.

Things went from bad to worse for the Kenyan club in the third quarter, which saw them concede an 18-13 score.

Cobra then wrapped up victory after winning the fourth quarter 17-12.

KPA’s Victor Bosire was his club’s top scorer with 15 points while Daniel Omondi had 10 points.

The winners, Cobra, had David Gai as their man of the moment with 22 points followed by Clement Maker, who had 11 points.

Another Kenyan men’s team, Strathmore University, also made a false start after losing 61-50 to Oiler of Tanzania.

As KPA and Strathmore were pondering their next move, Equity Bank were basking in glory after beating Uganda Christian University 71-57 in their opening tie.

Interestingly, Betty Kananu, who transferred from KPA to Equity two weeks to the championships, was the highest scorer for the bankers with 21 points.

Selina Okumu, who also left KPA for Equity, added 17 points for the Kenyan side.

Zainah Lokwamweli scored 15 points for the Ugandans.