Basketball: KPA bag slim win in Zone Five tourney

Defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) needed half a basket to begin their women title defence with victory as the FIBA Africa Zone Five basketball championships entered day two yesterday in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

KPA were on the receiving end from the first whistle trailing their opponents APR of Rwanda in both halves.

It was Yvonne Akinyi who scored in the last second for KPA to take a slim 50-49 victory.

Akinyi was KPA's top scorer with 14 points while Mercy Wanyama added 10 points for the Kenyan girls.  

Charlotte Umuganweza and Nicole Urwibusto bagged 13 and 12 points respectively for APR.

“We are focused on retaining the title we won last year in Kampala. The victory was a morale booster,” said KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu.

It was sweet victory for KPA, whose men's team lost their opening match 56 -39 to Rwanda Energy Group on Sunday.

Coach Ojukwu beefed up his squad after their dependable players Betty Kananu (guard) and Celine Okumu (forward) were poached by Equity Bank.

KPA also lost Felmas Adhiambo, who won the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya/StarTimes player of the month for February. [Ernest Ndunda]