Hawks take KBF playoff final lead

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women League champions Equity Hawks started off well their quest to defend their title after crushing Kenya Ports Authority 63-59 in Game One of the final playoffs staged at Makande Gymnasium.

The Hawks won only one quarter with KPA dominating three quarters but still managed to win due to high margin they registered in the first quarter.

They started winning 22-8 in the first quarter before loosing narrowly 14-13 in the second quarter going to halftime leading 35-22.

In the second half, the Dockers continued with their efforts to bring down the bankers when they won third quarter 20-13 before winding it up with a 17-15 win in the last quarter but this could not bare fruits as Equity had killed off the game already in the first quarter.

Equity and KPA qualified to the final after thrashing out UON Dynamites and Storms respectively in the semis.
The win left head coach David Maina a happy man.

“I am happy how we played today. The win was a morale booster since winning in Mombasa is not easy. I appreciate my players for following instructions, they had good energy from the beginning and I hope they will continue with the same energy and attitude in tomorrow’s match,” Maina said.

Team Captain Esther Butali revealed the secret to their victory.

“It was difficult match, they concentrated on stopping our star Belinda Akoth and forgotten Salma and that’s where we utilized and she showed a fantastic game,” Butali revealed.

KPA head coach Mike Opel promised a different game come tomorrow.

“We started off badly, we recovered well but we lacked extra efforts to win the game. I expect my players to play a different game tomorrow,” Opel promised.

The two will meet tomorrow Sunday for Game Two in the Five Game Series final playoffs at the same venu