Kenya’s Co-operative Bank stumbled in their second match of the 24th Fiba Africa men’s basketball club championship when they lost 83-75 to Democratic Republic of Congo’s Inter Club in Kigali, Rwanda, on Monday night.
Co-op Bank, who had narrowly edged out Uganda’s Warriors 71-70 in their Group B opener on Sunday, were due to play ASPAC of Benin in their third preliminary match last night in a game they had to win to avoid early elimination.
Against champions
The bankers, who qualified for the continental tournament after emerging winners of the Zone Five qualifier in Kampala, Uganda, will complete their group fixtures against reigning champions Primeiro d’Agosto of Angola on Thursday.
The Angolans demolished Inter 115-74 in their Group B opener and went ahead to whitewash ASPAC of Benin 119-77 on Monday.
Inter began their campaign by pinning down the Kenyans and take the first quarter 24-19 and the second 22-8. Co-op were down 46-27 at half-time when coach Carey “T9” Oketch changed the game plan and they turned the tables to lead 26-16 in the third quarter.
Co-op Bank, led by Bobby Okwako and Allan Ouma, worked hard to lead 22-21 in the last quarter but their poor show in the second quarter (22-8) cost them victory.
Six three-pointers
Okwako scored 28 points and Ouma 12 as Inter’s Boukindi Bertrand scored a game-high 32 points, which included six three-pointers.
Primeiro won their second consecutive game by thrashed ASPAC 119-77 and are expected to start as favourites Thursday.
Hosts Rwanda Patriotic Army assured themselves a place in the quarter-finals when they beat Nigeria’s Kano Pillars 93-66 in their second Group A match. APR started off well with a 91-59 win over Mazembe of DRC.
Wednesday is a rest day.
Thursday: Petrio Athletico (Angola) v Kano Pillars (Nigeria), Warriors (Uganda) v Inter Club (DRC), APR ASA (Angola), Primeiro d’Agosto (Angola) v Co-op (Kenya)
Full results: APR 91 Mazembe (DRC) 59, Inter Club (Congo) 74 Primeiro d’ Agosto 115, Co-op Bank (Kenya) 71 Warriors (Uganda) 70, Inter-Club 83 Co-op Bank 75, APR 93 Kano Pillars (Nigeria) 66, Primeiro d’Agosto (Angola) 119 ASPAC (Benin) 77