Reigning champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Lions mauled Posta 50-44 in a top Premier League clash at Nyayo National Stadium.
With a good crowd on hand to watch this epic duel, Posta were the better side in the first quarter jumping out to a 15-5 lead.
The Lions won the second period 15-9 to trail 24-20 in a low-scoring first half.
Tony Abondo scored right after the intermission to increased Posta’s margin to 26-20, but the Lions made a run and got within one, 30-29.
Posta started the final quarter with a 35-32 edge before KCB lanky centre David Otiso tied the score at 35 all. William Ochieng scored and Desmond Owili skied high for an offensive rebound and his one-handed dunk saw Posta in front 39-35.
Tobias Onyango, closely checked by Abondo then showed why he is the league's clutch scorers as he gave KCB their first lead, 41-39, with 6:32 left to play and later drained a three to push the advantage to 44-39, capping off a 9-0 run.
Abondo buried a long bomb of his own only for Oloo to cancel that out by banking one that saw the Lions in front 47-42. Onyango connected again from deep and Posta were unable to make another charge.
Onyango had 17 points in the win while Ochieng led all scorers with 20.
Meanwhile, after four losses in a row, the Blazers beat Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 60-53.
On the women’s side, reigning champions Eagle Wings cruised past United States International University (USIU) 89-30. Bridgit Nanzala potted 21 points while Angela Okoth added 20.
Yana jumped out to a 20-6 lead against Mennonites and overcame a slugglish second quarter to record a 75-51 win. Linda Alando led all scorers with 20 points and Mitchele Odendo chipped in with 13.
Elsewhere, Strathmore University got the better of Sprite Storms 47-31. The teams were tied at 17 a piece at halftime and the students gradually pulled away over the course of the last two quarters.
Grace Wanjiru set the pace with 21 points.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA AFrica