Dumas edge Tigers as Panthers roar past Storms in league thrillers

Alex Nzuki (with ball) of Equity Dumas takes on Gerry Wekesa of KPA during their Kenya Basketball Federation match at Nyayo Basketball Court on March 1, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Equity Bank Dumas held their nerve to beat United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Tigers 84-82 in a Kenya Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League match played yesterday at Nyayo Gymnasium.

A brilliant show in the first quarter made the difference for the bankers, who were seeking to register their 11th win and consolidate their spot in the top eight.

The outcome was, however, not good for the students who are now caught up in a battle for survival as they look to maintain their spot in the Premier League.

Joshua Athian scored a match-high 23 points for the Tigers, but his effort was not good enough to save his side from suffering their 14th defeat and remaining at the bottom of the standings.

Deng Kuol was also in good form, adding 19 points, but a dull first quarter that saw them score 14 points against Dumas’ 30 proved costly despite their impressive display in subsequent periods.

Davis Siaji starred for the bankers with 20 points, while Ivan Ombiru complemented his effort with 18. Equity had a good start and had taken a 16-point lead by the end of the first quarter.

However, Tigers returned stronger to dominate the second quarter with both their offence and defence functioning well. They won the quarter 23-8 to reduce the point deficit to half a basket with the score at 37-38 at the breather.

The second half was evenly contested, but the bankers would push harder to snatch the third period 25-21 and stretch their advantage to five points. Tigers fought on in the fourth quarter to score 24 points against Dumas' 21, but it was the bankers who carried the day with a two-point difference.

With relegation looming, the students will today take on their African Nazarene University (ANU) counterparts Wolfpacks, in a bid to save their sinking ship.

Defending champions Nairobi City Thunder maintained their good run with a resounding 83-61 victory against Umoja Basketball Club on Friday night. They top the table with 40 points and will be looking to end the regular season on a high when they play their last two encounters against Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), whom they dethroned last season.

In the Women’s Premier League title chase, ANU Panthers enhanced their chances of playing top-flight basketball next season with a 54-30 win against Storms. With the victory, the Panthers, who struggled throughout the first leg, are two places above the relegation zone and only need to keep winning to escape the axe.

Desire Henrie, who has been instrumental for Panthers in their fight to survive demotion, maintained her good performance, scoring 16 points, the same as Yvette Nyawire. Storms, on the other hand, continued with their pitiful show even as their top scorer, Emily Gicovi, managed a paltry seven points.

In another encounter, the Swish condemned Eldonets to the relegation fight with a 51-36 win. Eldonets are second from the bottom with 18 points, though all is not lost for them because they have more matches to play.