Reigning champions KCB Lions and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women took giant steps towards retaining their national crowns when they costed to impressive wins in Game One matchges played beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 77-67 at the Makande Welfare Hall in Mombasa over the weekend.
Lions roared to a huge 77-67 win over KPA men while KPA women side whipped Eagle Wings 70-59 in another match played before a big Mombasa crowd.
KCB win in this ill tempered game, the first by any team in the coastal city this year, gave the bankers a firm grip and a chance to wrap up the series in Nairobi this weekend if they can win at least one of the two matches of the three game series.
KCB roared off to a 20-10 first quarter advantage and hanged on grittily in the second where both giants wer deadlocked 10-10 as they went to the break. After the intermission, KPA in an effort to turn the tables mounted some pressure but Lions stood firm as the quarter ended 23-23.
In the fourth, Lions played smarter smoothing away any threats thrown at them by their opponents who were urged on by their many followers in this match punctuated by stoppages due to crowd trouble.
Victor Odendo led all scorers with 25 points, Toibias Onyango nailed 16 while Anthony Mbori chipped in with 15 for KCB. KPA had 17 from Musa Odari, 11 from Furaha Odari and 10 from Patrick Kirui.
In the women' Game One, reigning champions KPA beat Eagle Wings to also move closer to another title in their colourful and impressive medal hunt in the local league that started in the late eighties.
KPA had a smooth 26-9 sail in the first quarter but Wings shook off early pressure to move close 13-16 in the second quarter. In the third, the losers slashed the margin to within 42-49 and took over the proceedings in the fourth with a 16-9 edge.
Millicent Anyango nailed 11 points while Agnes Anyango added 10 to guide KPA to this crucial home win. But it was Wings Anastasia Njeri who was all fire, she posted 21 points before an injury stopped her heroics by forced her to the bench. Angela Okoth scored 10.
In classification matches played at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium, Co-operative Bank of Kenya beat International Christian Center (ICC) 77-68 in a classification tie for third and fourth.
The regional champions, who are headed to Kigali, Rwanda for the Africa club championships were pegged down 23-23 at the end of the first quarter and 33-33 at the break by a relentless ICC.
Co-op Bank rallied to take this tie that saw them finish the league in the third place with Richard Osano and Bobby Okwako taking over the proceedings. Osano nailed 15 points and Okwako posted another 12 in that win.
Griffin Ligare scored game high 24 points to lift ICC to an impressive fourth position while James Omune added 18.
Posta wound up in the fifth position when they beat United States International University (USIU) 67-62 in a classification tie. The mailmen were pepped by Joshua Orwe who sunk 24 points. Tigers Ken Ochieng also posted similar numbers.
Strathmore University "Blades" cut Lomboritz to size winning 59-47 but that result only saw them finish in the seventh place despite preseason promises by Tony Ochieng that his boys were championships material.
In the ladies category, Eastern Queens, so dissapointed at not reaching the finals in their first outing, beat USIU for third place with a 66-54 win. Hilda Indasi led the winners with 13 points while Flames had Linda Sirma leading the scoring chart with 15.
Sylvia Kamau guided Strathmore University "Swords" to the fifth place after they demolished Sprite Storms 68-48. The students registered their best result so far in the league. Storms wound up in sixth.
Yana beat Kenya College of Accountany (KCA) 47-34 behind Sylvia Koech's 17 ponts to finish in the seventh place. Lucy Machuma ingnited the students rally with 15 points.
Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST) whipped Blazers 95-65 at the Police Canteen in Kamakega and looks a sure bet for the lower division title. They will travel to Nairobi for two games.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa