Nairobi women and Mombasa men's teams retained the 12th edition of the Sprite East and Central Africa Inter Cities titles in style as the nine team tournament comes to a close in the Kenyan coastal town over the weekend.
In the final matches played before packed hall, Nairobi proved too smart for Mombasa whipping them 59-40 in the women's finals that was close only in the first half. Hilda Indasi was named the MVP and she provided 16 points. Grace Wanjiru was named best defensive player.
In the men's category, Mombasa did well to beat Dar es Salaam 52-41 in a low scoring but hard fought game. Both teams battled it out in Arusha finals last year with Mombasa squeezing out a close 63-61 advantage.
The men's title belonged to the young Mombasa lads who posed all sorts of problems for Dar who hit the game opener on a three pointer by Francis Malewa but when Dan Okwirri gave the coastal lads a 8-7 lead.
Zadock Osogo, declared the finals MVP had provided 12 points while the stylish Okwirri added 14. Dar's Mulewa got the best defensive player award and veteran center George Tarimo was named the events top scorer. Mombasa Select beat Mwanza to end up in third position. Kelvin Ominde scored 19 points but it was Mwanza's Adam Jagame who led with 28 points
In other matches, Nairobi rolled over Dar es Salaam 69-42 pulling up the strings in the first half to win with consumate ease. The game saw four sisters share the courts with Janet and Angela Okoth for Nairobi while the Tanzanians girls, Sajda, a student in a Nairobi university playing against her sibling Amina who led the losers in scoring.
A last gasp three pointer at the buzzer by Francis Malewa saw Dar come from behind to stun Mombasa City 50-48 in a cracking game. It seemed the host would carry the day until a stunner by Malewa deflated the home fans. Dar topped the mens pool and while Mombasa were second.
Kampala City had to use every trick in the book before prevailing 53-52 against Mombasa Select girls. The losers Purity Adhiambo nailed tournament high 30 points, she was the events top scorer, while the winners had 14 points a piece from Mariam Hamalla, Annete Nakiwa and Sorigi Martha.
OUSTANDINGS
WOMEN
NAIROBI 8 pts
MOMBASA CITY 7 pts
DAR 5 pts
KAMPALA 4 pts
MOMBASA SELECT 4 pts
MEN
MOMBASA CITY 6 pts
MOMBASA CITY 5 pts
MOMBASA SELECT 4 pts
MWANZA 3 pts
Dann Owere