Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology are the new 2009 men’s basketball Division One league champions.
The Kakamega-based students were Saturday declared winners on a 2-0 basis after registering a 82-72 win over Nairobi’s Blazers in Game Two of the best-of-three series play-off final. The entertaining tie was played before a big crowd at Nyayo Stadium.
However, the women’s Game Two final match between champions Kenya Ports Authority and Eagle Wings was expected to start late due to power failure.
The two coaches, Anthony Ojukwu (KPA) and Thomas “Smarts’’ Olumbo, had insisted that they couldnot play without the 24 second stop clock.
KPA had made a good start at home when they beat Eagle Wings 70-56 in Game One in Mombasa. Champions KCB Lions were also due to play KPA in the men’s final Game Two match. The bankers beat KPA 77-67 in the final opener in Mombasa.
Early contributions
After having lost Game One 95-65 in Kakamega, Blazers needed to win at home to tie the series 1-1 and force for the decisive Game Three on Sunday.
Blazers dream never came true as MMUST were focused to complete their job 2-0. The students had man-of-the match Martin Kitonga and Fredrick Osore making effective early contributions which left Blazers in a tight corner. MMUST went up 12-6 with Blazers fighting hard through John Gicheru and Joseph Kosgei to narrow the gap 12-10.
MMUST had a well cordinated game which saw them lead 21-14 in the first quarter. Towering Kitonga, continued to do damage to Blazers as MMUST led 42-29 at half-time.
On resumption, Blazers took the students by surprise when Gicheru, Kosgei and Hans Amulyoto went for a 10-0 run as MMUST went dry for four minutes.
Blazers, who had battled from behind to eliminate KCA-U 2-1 in the semi-final, closed the margin 42-39 but they never had a chance to lead. It was in the third quarter in which Blazers worked tirelessly hard to force Game Three oustscoring the visiting students 25-21.
Eliminated Parklands
On sensing danger, coach Abel Wafuta decided not to rest Kitonga, Alex Lugasi, Edwin Buku and Fredrick Lugasi, who continued to cause havoc in Blazers ‘D’ area. MMUST built a 14 points margin (59-45) making it difficult for Blazers to recover.
Blazers coach Brick Walucho made several substitutions which failed to yield any fruit as Kitonga was left loose to score at will as the fans cheered the Kakamega-based students.
MMUST, who finished top in the regular season had qualified for the final after eliminating Parklands Baptist 2-0 in the semi-final. Kitonga scored game-high 44 points, Alex Lugasi added 16 for MMUST while Kosgei had 18 and Gicheru replied with 11 for Blazers. MMUST games and sports tutor Ernest Tuiga said the final matches were challenging for them considering that they started during the examination time.
“We missed three of out top players who were left behind because they had their examinations but we still managed to win league title on our first appearance’’.
He thanked the university administration for the support through the vice-chancellor Prof. Wangila Baraza who gives sporting activities all the required support.