Equity versus KPA? Who will be crowned basketball league champions?

The stakes are high and there is no margin for error when basketball league giants Equity Bank and Kenya Ports Authority lock horns tonight in Game Five – the final match of the five-game final series to determine who will be crowned the 2019 women Kenya Basketball Federation league champions.

You see, these two sides have haggled for the past three years, exchanging the title between them and they are at it again!

KPA last won the gong in 2017 while Equity are the defending champions. They now want to retain the title at whatever price but the Dockers from Mombasa are having none of it.

With four out of the five games already played , the odds are even with each side boasting of two wins apiece. It is a tight and delicate match that gamblers are perhaps best warned to keep off, but if you talk to the respective coaches, they will best advise you to cast their lot with them.

Look, last night in a Game Four clash at the same venue, Equity’s hopes of winning the match to defend the crown went up in smoke,  opening up the race  after they were beaten pants down 69-53 by KPA.

The bankers had won Game One and Three 63-59 and 54-51 respectively while KPA had won Game Two 56-50, adding to last night’s heroics.

To aid their win, the Dockers dominated three quarters winning the first quarter 17-13, the second 16-10 to assume a halftime lead of 33-23.

In the second half,  KPA started from where they’d left winning the third quarter with a huge margin of  25-14 but Equity’s efforts in the last quarter could not bare them fruits despite winning 16-11.

KPA’ head coach Mike Opel attributed the win to defensive play, and definitely they’ll be tighter even tonight to bag the diadem.

“We played well defensively unlike in Game Three, we were also able to maintain our leads and I  expect to continue with the same in tomorrow’s(Friday) final  match which I believe we shall win and claim back the title,” Opel said.

Team assistant captain Hilda Indasi who was also player of the match attributed the win to team work.

“We had no option but to win and I am really happy for my teammates; tomorrow’s match will be the toughest one since its a do or die situation and we expect nothing but a win,” Indasi added.

On his part Equity head coach David Maina said theyll take full responsibility for the loss.

“We had many lapses, didn’t take care of the ball  and lacked confidence in finishing. We failed to tighten our defence but we still have a chance and my players knows where they went wrong and they will do a better job tomorrow,” Maina explained.

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