KPA ready to use home to dock Equity Hawks

Equity Bank’s Melissa Akinyi (left) and Natalie Akinyi of KPA during KBF league Final ladies match at Nyayo Gymnasium. Feb 20, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are two wins away from reclaiming the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Premier League title they last won in 2018.

Trailing 1-0, the Dockers staged a brilliant comeback to defeat defending champions Equity Bank Hawks 58-45 to claim the second of their playoff finals at the Nyayo Gymnasium last Sunday, to set up a mouthwatering Game Three today at Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa.

Hawks had won the opening match 53-51 of the best of five playoff series but after tying the series, KPA captain Vilma Achieng believes the title is theirs to lose. Each side will aim to win the next two games to wrap up the series.

The regular season leaders have the advantage of hosting all three remaining matches of the series and Achieng is relying on home court advantage to propel them to victory.

“Game One was an eye opener, it made us to refocus. Moving forward we are taking one game at a time but the best part about it is that we have to play the last three games at home with our fans.  We are therefore preparing for very competitive and fun games this weekend,” Achieng said.

Achieng, who was kept quiet in Game One (six points), registered a double-double after dropping 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead KPA to victory in Game Two.

KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu said winning away from home was a boost to the team as they head into the crucial two matches in Mombasa.

“I am very happy with how we played despite losing in Game One. We were able to shrug off the disappointment and take a win away from court,” said Ojukwu after the match.

“We did nothing different from Game One, but finished strongly especially in the third quarter and fourth, which we did not do in Game One.”

KPA will be boosted by the return of former national team captain Hilda Indasi, who missed the matches in Nairobi, while Equity are hoping that Belinda Akoth will be available for selection after missing out with an injury.

KPA and Equity have dominated the league for the past four years with each winning twice.

KPA won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018, while Equity won in 2016 and 2019.