Equity Hawk’s plans to destroy KPA in Nairobi

Samba Mjomba (right) of Equity Bank dribbles the ball against Betty Kananu (left) of KPA during the Kenya Basketball Federation Play-offs finals game one at the KPA Makande GYM. KPA ladies won 62-43. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Equity Bank’s Hawks captain Samba Mjomba is confident they will make history as they tackle Fiba Africa Zone V Clubs Basketball champions Kenya Ports Authority(KPA) in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s Premier League final playoff at Nyayo national stadium in Nairobi this weekend.

The two sides, currently locked at 1-1 in the best of five series, will be looking for glory in Game Three and Four and possibly Five in an expected tough encounter, owing to the calibre of stars the sides possess.

Head coach David Maina said he is banking on his key players and former KBF Most Valuable Players Hilda Indasi and Mjomba to stretch to their limits and help him execute the work at the weekend.

Other dependable players he expects to rise to the occasion are Mercy Wanyama and former national team captain Silalei Shani who has had basketball stints in the US.

The Hawks clearly missed the services of Shani, who was out of the country, as they tackled KPA in the latter’s backyard at Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa. They went down 62-43 to the hosts in Game One on Saturday and redeemed themselves in Game Two on Sunday by posting a half a basket victory of 56-55.

“Even though we had a lengthy training the whole of last week, our opening strategy for the final playoff was wrong which saw KPA defeat us in Game One. We were not mentally prepared and lacked focus. Maybe it was due to playing in the finals for the first time which was rather a big stage for some of us who have never been there,” noted Hawk’s captain Mjomba.

Mjomba, the 2013 KBF’ women’s Premier League MVP explained they had to work fast on their defence and shooting skills in order to counter KPA in Game Two.

“We realised our defence was in array and KPA capitalised on that by planting Felmas Adhiambo at our goal line and she manged to destroy us in Game One, so we worked on a strategy to halt Adhiambo’s marauding ways which successfully worked out as we were able to level the series 1-1,” Mjomba noted.