National champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Lions saw their three month unbeaten run halted as Co-operative Bank of Kenya responds to whip Posta in tough matches played at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium over the weekend.
Lions clean run were wrecked when they fell 69-77 to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in a tough premier league tie while Posta were noi match for Co-op Bank who clobered them 64-45 to make a strong statement that they are not dead just as yet.
Lions welcomed back forward/center Dennis "Dikembe" Opiyo back to the team, but it brought them no luck as their six match clean run was halted by the porters, who trailed 16-18 in the first quarter. KCB took the second quarter also with a 13-12 cushion.
But the champions, who were far from their best, faltered 14-20 and 24-29 in the last two quarters giving KPA, who also beat Lomboritz 74-52, a chance to climb to the fourth spot with 11 points. Lions still lead the chart with 13 points from seven matches
Dan Okwirri had 18 points for the on form KPA who also had 10 from Musa Odari in that easy win over Lomboritz the previous day. Lions had no help for Tobias Onyango who led the side's scoring chart with 22 points.
In another top of the bill tie that brought a good crowd to the courts, former champions Co-operatrive Bank of Kenya pounded Posta 64-45 to announce that they may have suffered a bip in form but rule them out at your own peril.
The bankers responded superbly from their earlier slip ups proving the pundits wrong with a slow 11-9 first quarter advantage. The second was no better as it lacked in much anticipated fireworks as one point edge, 14-13 seperated the two giants.
Richard Osano, Alan Ouma and Benard Mufutu were the architects as Co-op caught fire stampeding to a whopping 28-7 demolition. This tie, expected to ba a cracker all the way became a cake walk for Co-op who have now won four of their seven ties.
But Posta came out stronger in the fourth with Ben Oluoch and Michael Kariuki leading from the front but it was not enough effort to shake off a much focused Co-op sqaud who displayed a strong all round display.
This performance saw Co-op, such a force during the old days of the "Magfnificent Seven" of Denis Orina, Solomon Onamu, Fred Omondi, Ken Ondiek, Donald Ochieng, Ben Rateng and battling Ben Iraya, bring back some old memories.
The high riding Osano nailed 16 points but was out did by the nimble Allan Ouma who hit game high 17 points. For Posta, who have now lost two back to back games after that 59-57 shocker over champions KCB Lions, Oluoch showed the way with 15.
Posta also recovered from that lopsided loss to Co-op the previous day as they rocked Strathmore University 87-74 in another hard fought match. The mailmen went to work early with a 26-19 lead in the first quarter quarter, but the tide turned in the second as they trailed 13-21.
Both teams had the scores 19-19 in the penultimate quarter and it was Posta who responded in the last quarter with a 29-15 edge bag the maximum points. Ben Oluoch nailed 27 points while Eric Odhiambo bagged 13 for the victors. Ken Maru had 19 and Paul Nyakinda managed 17 for the students.
Reigning women champions KPA, eyeing another Zone Five crown in Kampala latter this month, humiliated Mennonites 81-21 in a one side show to remain the only unbeaten side. Everlyn Akoth sunk 17 points for the winners, who made it a fruitful weekend for the Mombasa side.
The porters introduced back former international Millicent Anyango and had a combined 23 points from Yvonne Akinyi, Joyce Makungu and Everlyn Akoth as they swept aside Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 59-23. The studenst had 10 from Everlyne Odhiambo.
Lanky Bridgit Nanzala was good for 15 points and Janet Okoth added 12 to propel Eagle Wings to a 63-40 win over United States International Univetsity (USIU). Flames had Everlyne Nora scoring 15 points that included four three pointers. Wings had also thumped yana 57-40 despite Astabina Sivchiri's game high 10 points.
In Kakamega, Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST) maintained their 100 per cent record in the lower division as they whipped the visiting Nakuru Club 106-54.
Parklands Baptists nipped Blazers 54-53 in a lower divison match up. And in the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) provincia league games, leaders Trailblazers thrashed Satelite Mercenaries 56-18 behind 21 pioints from Joshua Vuva.
Madison pipped Emyba 33-32 as Romanmus Nehondo shot 11 points. Baraka Xtreme torched Nairobi Deaf Kings 61-12 behind Richard Otieno's 16 points.
Old Pirates had 19 points from Eugene Mutekhele as they blanked Don Bosco 64-42. Baraka Xtreme's Tomothy Otieno bagged 12 points in a 59-34 win over Emyba.
Madison pipped Balozi 62-60 in a game that saw Bon Habenga hit 18 points while the losers had 13 from Givan Mwalenga. Joseph Achega scored 21 but it was enough to stop Friends of Basketball (FOB) falling 54- 47 to Kenya Polytechnic University.
Upper Hill School beat Nairob Deaf King 40-28 behind 13 points from George Ngaroro while the women's matches saw Baraka Xtreme suffer 43-9 loss to Kenya Polytechnic. Safe Spaces had 17 points from Florence Mbithe as they beat Africa Nazarene University (ANU) 41-18 while World Hope hit new team Baraka Xtreme 25-13.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa