JKT trounced Morogoro’s Mzinga by 99-60 in a national basketball league match played at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The winners took charge of the match right from the start as they tormented their opponents with superb display.
JKT opened a huge margin of 32-16 lead at the end of the opening quarter before extending into massive 62-35 lead at half time.
JKT’s Frank Mwemezi and Christian Jacob were among the most impressive performers.
The duo offered crucial support both defensively and offensively and they, in the process, eased the workload for dependable regulars including point guard Frank Kusiga, Frank Simkoko, Mkumbo Mgendi, Himid Choka and Francis Mlewa.
Mwemezi, who played as centre in place of the towering Jimmy Brown for most part of the game, effectively used his masculine body to keep Mzinga players at bay. He won thunderous applause from supporters during the closing stages of the second quarter, executing two timely blocks to outplay Said Khamis and Dotto Zephania of Mzinga.
Mgendi and Mlewa, were superb with three-pointer scoring virtuosity while tormenting Mzinga defence to give JKT an upper hand for the other half of the match.
Mzinga surprisingly tried to make a come back into the game as they introduced towering centre Mwalimu Julius in the second quarter.
Julius effectively made full use of his height to to get the better of JKT defence.
JKT coach Tubert Matiku had to introduce Brown for the remaining part of the match in an effort to contain Julius, who continued to pose threats to the winner’s defense. He linked well with Zephania to score and help Mzinga slightly reduce the losing margin.
Mlewa was the highest scorer of points in JKT with 19 followed by Choka with 17 and Charles Makene who had 12 points.
Julius scored 17 points for Mzinga while team mates Zephania and Khamis added 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Other league matches were expected to take place at the same venue later in the evening.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN