By Erick Ochieng’
Emyba consolidated their position at the top of the men’s Division Two league by beating Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) 49-36 at a Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) match played yesterday at Nairobi Railway club.
David Opiyo, who scored 20 points for Emyba, was outstanding for the winners, scoring a three pointer during the match.
Emyba went on the offensive from the start, which saw KAA calling for a time out at the sixth minute of the first quarter.
But this did not deter Emyba who went on to win the quarter 16-11. Nicholas Muli, who netted 10 points for KAA, struggled hard to rally KAA 09-06 past Emyba in the second quarter as the contest seemed even.
But Emyba soldiered on after the break to win the third quarter 11-07 and the last 16-09 to put the total scores at 49-36.
The NBA league, which is on its sixth week, also saw Kenya Polytechnic University losing 34-27 to Safe Spaces in a tight women’s Division One encounter at the same venue.
Struggling Poly called for time outs in the sixth, seventh and tenth minutes of the last quarter in an attempt to salvage the game, but it was too late as Safe Spaces had carried the day despite losing the first and final quarters.
Florence Mbitho (nine points) led Safe Spaces to triumph 03-04,14-09,09-04 and 08-10 as her opposite number Florence Makosewe scored ten points for the losers.
The third game, which pitted Friends of Basketball (FOB) and Balozi in another men’s Division Two match, proved a dull encounter.
Both teams seemed tired, lacked motivation and their playing prowess should be the greatest worry to their coaches.
The match, which, won by FOB 51-34 (15-07,08-12,12-11,16-04) under the scorching Nairobi heat, had the highest points registered, with Joseph Achega (22) and Savio Kanyaja (20) scoring for FOB and Balozi.
"The league is progressing well and in a few weeks we shall have finished the first leg," said NBA Fixtures Secretary Caleb Osewe.