Trailblazers and Predators won the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) men and women crowns as the 2009 provincial league comes to an end at Railways Club.
In one of the most one sided play off finals ever, Trailblazers blanked Nairobi Aviation College (NAC) 3-1 while Predators were too strong for top seed Safe Spaces dismissing them with a 3-0 sweep. Trailblazers also won the last title while Predators did it three years ago. Both teams are self sponsored.
Trailblazers....78 NAC.....52
Joshua Vuva scored 22 points, Dennis Oyaro hit 17 while Geoffrey Abuya nailed 14 to guide Trailblazers to their first back to back title. After slipping in Game One, the winners won all the ir last three consecutive matches. Mike Makiada recorded the losers 16.
Predators....61 Safe Spaces......34
In the last game of the series, Wilkister Oduor nailed 15 points and Pamella Ikonga added 10 for Predators who were ahead 31-10 at half time. Penina Nthenya managed to scored the losers 10 points. But the two sides declined a move to the top. The matches were played in the best of five szeries.
NBA chairman Ronnie owino said that this year's league which had a record 21 teams (14 men and 7 women's teams ) was very competitive. He congratulated the teams and wished those who were promoted to the KBF division One well next year.
"There is no doubt about it, NBA league has come of age and is highly competitive. The fact that we send five teams to the provincial play offs in Nakuru and all of them got promoted is a manifestation that we are doing well." he noted.
He was optimistic that some teams will join the show next year to fill in the void left by the five namely- Trailblazers, Nairobi Aviation College, Kenya Polytechic University, Emyba and Friends of Basketball (FOB).
At the same he announcved that because Predators and Spaces will not move up, Kenya Polytechnic who beat World Hope 52-37 behind 11 points from Dolly Karaba and 10 from Eupracia Kageha will be promoted. The losers had game high 14 from Purity Shelly.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA AFrica