NAIROBI (2010 club basketball review) - A busy 2010 calendar came to a close with much to cheer about at the local and regional front, but it was a disaster at the continental podium with nothing going right for Kenya.
The league got off to a promising start and despite the usual hullabaloo about the fixtures and officiating, it dragged on ending on a chaotic scene at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium on the afternoon of December 19.
Co-operative Bank of Kenya recaptured their crown after over a decade, shutting out reigning champions KCB Lions. Co-op won game one 76-64 but suffered a humiliating 85-50 thrashing in Game Two.
In the decisive game three, Lions struggled every which way never finding their rhythm in a fiercely contested grand finale that was halted with 5:43 minutes still to play for fears of insecurity. Co-op were ahead 44-30.
In the women's category, Eagle Wings flew high in Mombasa posting an impressive 60-52 away win in a tough environment. But if they thought it would be walk in the park in Nairobi, they were dead wrong.
The dock-women nipped the favourites 54-51 in game two and to show it was no fluke, erased a huge 18 point deficit to emerge 60-59 victors. Wings were stunned as KPA celebrated their hard earned win.
But the year belonged to former national champions Ulinzi Warriors, who made a triumphant return to the top without losing a game during that long run. They are joined by Mennonites for top flight action this year.
Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) champions Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Navy from Mombasa said bye bye to the provincial leagues when they qualified for the lower division following their exploits in the 16 team provincial play offs.
Mombasa hosted the annual inter cities championships at the Makande Welfare hall and once again it was the Nairobi ladies team that dominated, winning their eighth crown in 12 years beating Mombasa 59-40. Mombasa men won 52-41 over Dar es Salaam.
Kenya sent four teams to Bujumbura, Burundi for the Zone Five club show. KCB Lions and Co-op (men) Eagle Wings and KPA (women). When the 18 team tournament came to an end, Kenya again reigned supreme with Co-op and Wings carrying the day.
Wings and Co-op Bank booked their tickets to represent the country in the FIBA Africa Club Championships. But none of the teams showed up in Bizerte, Tunisia and Cotonou, Benin for the women and men show respectively. Wings were hit by financial constraints as for Co-op, no reason was fourth coming.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa
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