Brian Obimbo is becoming a major force for the University of Nairobi’s Terrorists.
Obimbo had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Yuval Genga added 12 points and six assists to lead the hosts to a huge 76-36 victory on Saturday over Daystar University on the second day of the National Inter-University Sports Championship at the University of Nairobi.
All five Terrorists starters finished in double figures. George Omenda scored 11 points, including two three-pointers, Paula Luvanda added another 11, and Wycliffe Othiambo bagged 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
UoN players have a difficulty describing Obimbo’s impact – from leadership to his ability to step up in the second half on the way to their second straight championship win.
“What else do you want me to say?” Luvanda said of Obimbo, who has been starring for the former Premier League side. “The guy has been great. He’s rebounded, he’s scored, and he’s defended.... He’s just been outstanding for us.”
There are too many words to describe what Obimbo has meant to this team so far. He has been an energy guy, a guy who’s been a leader for this team, and a veteran. Going out and putting in the work that he has on and off the court has been amazing.
Aggrey Ojiambo scored 10 points for Daystar while Fred Njenga sunk eight points, with four rebounds, but that could do little to salvage the match that sunny morning.
Daystar, with 7:31 left to fulltime, capitalised on successive turnovers by the hosts, but Obimbo converted a three-point play when John Kabaa fouled him on a basket inside.
Obimbo then blocked two shots before hitting a fade-away from the baseline for a 34-63 UoN lead and Daystar never threatened the leaders for the rest of the way. In fact, they only managed a basket in 10 minutes of the last quarter.
“They put it on us,” Kabaa said. “We knew they would score a lot of points in the paint, and that they would hit the glass. We were ready for that.
“Unfortunately, they just got us in a bad way in those post-ups and Obimbo and Genga just got a lot of easy baskets.”
UoN turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter as they enjoyed not only their deserved lead for the entire match but also the home ground status, too, came in handy.
Half-court affair
They stepped up their defence in the third quarter, forcing their opponents into bad shots. But Daystar were equally tough in their defence, making UoN work for their points. At some point in the quarter, it became a half-court affair for the most part of the dying seconds of the session.
Luvanda broke free for two dunks in the fourth quarter and he was two-for-nine shooting from the field.
results: Basketball: Kimathi 23 KU 57, UoN 84 KEMU 37, Strathmore 84 Moi 53, MMUST 20 MKU 0 (walkover MKU)