Kenya Commercial Bank are poised to win the Labour Day Basketball title after archrivals Co-operative bank failed to show up for the contest at Menengai High School, Nakuru, on Saturday.
Co-op were expected to give KCB Lions a run for their money in the two-day tournament that ends Sunday.
Some 11 teams – eight men’s and three women’s – are taking part in the annual tournament, part of the national Labour Day celebrations.
“Despite Co-operative Bank shying away from the tournament, the turnout is impressive as we have more than ten teams taking part in the two-day tournament,” said one of the tournament coordinators, Sejo Delewa.
In their opening match, Lions, under coach Francis Ngunjiri, overcoming a scare to beat a never say die Ulinzi 64-52.
Lions, led by captain Tobias Onyango who was a playing in a familiar ground as he is a former Nakuru Club player, were stretched before winning the first quarter 24-19.
Ulinzi came back forcefully in the second, with Ben Mafutu and Paul Olanya giving the Lions’ defence some anxious moments, but the bankers emerged victorious by a narrow 12-9.
Making a comeback
Ulinzi, who are making a comeback in top-flight basketball, grabbed the third quarter 17-15 but in the deciding quarter found themselves backpedalling as the Lions triumphed 13-7.
Onyango was the game’s top scorer with 18 points while his colleague Zaddock Osogo, who scored two classic three-pointers, had eight. Ulinzi’s Ben Mufutu was the toast for his side with 12 points, followed by Paul Olanya with eight points .
Kenyatta University’s Terror ambushed Naivasha Prisons 91-36 while Nakuru Club failed to tame Strathmore, losing 64-44. Strathmore whitewashed Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) 113-10. Nakuru Club atoned for the defeat by beating newcomers Team 21 of Eldoret 64-38.
In the women’s category, Yana rocked rookies CBK 69-2. They rolled over the bankers with a 23-0 win in the first quarter, 12-2 in the second and 18-0 in the third and wrapped up the game with an emphatic 12-0 victory.
The tyre makers’ Rachel Makena top-scored with 13 points as her team mate Linda Alandu hit 10 while CBK’s lone basket was scored by Monica Kiarie.
Results
Men: Nakuru Club 44 Strathmore 64; Nakuru Club 64 Team 21 Eld 38; 64 Ulinzi 52; Terror 91 Naivasha Prisons 36
Women: CBK 2 Yana 69; Strathmore 113 CBK 10