Patience pays off for Equity Bank players

Equity Bank's "Hawk" Rose Apondi (left) and Nathalie Akinyi of KPA fight for ball possession in-search of Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League champion on Monday night, Feb 13, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Equity Bank women’s basketball team is a squad of rescilience.

Theirs has been nothing but hard work. Patience has also been a virtue in their numerous assignments.

So when the FIBA Africa Zone Five Club basketball championships ended in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the weekend, the Kenyan side was no doubt the envy of many.

Coached by David Maina, Equity won in all of their five matches to be crowned new regional champions.

The bankers lifted their maiden title after upsetting last year’s winners Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 70-54 in the final.

It was a sweet victory for the bankers who lost in last year’s final to KPA at Lugogo Stadium, Uganda.

After last year’s final, Equity took the defeat in their stride and vowed to go back to the drawing board and build a winning team in readiness for the 2018 event.

Ironically, Equity bank raided KPA to recruit their best players just two weeks ahead of the regional championships; and it was worth the raid after all.

Coach Maina beefed up his squad by securing the services of Betty Kananu (guard) and Celine Okumu (forward).

After sensing danger, KPA, who also lost Felmas Adhiambo, signed Berlyn Milugo and Rachel Wandago, both from Kenyatta University, Mercy Wanyama and Melisa Akinyi, both from Storms.

KPA remains the most successful side in the region with nine titles.