Fiba Afro Basket: Morans off to a flyer

After 23 years in the cold, Kenya men’s basketball team Morans returned to the Afro Basketball Championship qualification rounds in style humiliating visitors Eritrea 112-64.

Eric Mutoro scored 17 points and made 7 assists as Kenya begun the four day tournament in style.

Buoyed by a loud crowd at the Nyayo Gymnasium, the Morans commanded proceedings for most part of play leaving the Eritreans with little or nothing to feed on.

Cliff Owuor’s men begun the match like they meant to win taking an 8-3 lead within the opening minute. With Ulinzi Warriors point guard Victor Bosire controlling the game tempo; it was clear the opponents were not prepared for the hammering that lay in wait.

Kenya raced to a 24-13 lead in the first quarter with Mark Makiadi and Faheem Juma with the threes. Eritrea tried clawing their way back into the contest through Israel Mulugeta their danger man whose outside shooting was pinpoint but it was clear he wasn’t going to do it alone.

Entered Tunisian based centre man Tom ‘Bush’ Wamukota who was effortless in keeping Mulugeta silent. Through his efforts, Kenya managed more than ten turnovers. By the end of the second quarter, Morans had doubled the Eritreans 50-25 with France based Robert Nyakundi in hand with the threes as the charged crowd urged the roaring Morans on.

By the end of the third quarter, it was clear that the Eritreans had thrown in the towel but the Kenyans did not remove their feet off the gas pedal punishing every mistake made – ruthlessly for that matter – with Mutoro grabbing the majority of his points.

The Eritreans tried to rally back in the last quarter through shooting guard Israel Mulugeta but it was too late as they ended up losing with the same margin of double score as the second quarter.

Kenya will next turn their sight to neighbours Tanzania tomorrow with expectations of grabbing a second win.

Report by Harold Odoyo and Amaira Chege