Kenyan teams post mixed results at FIBA Zone Five Championship

FIBA African Zone Five women defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) had a flying start in their quest to defend the title they won last year in Kampala, Uganda with a narrow 50-49 win against APR of Rwanda in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as the championship enters day three on Tuesday.

Yvonne Odhiambo showed her class emerging the top scorer in the contest with 14 points in a tight match.

So close was the contest that the teams drew 12-12 and 11-11 in the first and second quarters respectively.

In the third quarter APR became more offensive winning 21-16 against KPA but the Kenyans prevailed in the last quarter winning 11-5 to claim the victory.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu said experience helped them to win the game.

“It was a tough game and very tactical but experience helped us win the game and thank my players who were strong mentally for following instructions to the last minute of the game,” he said.

Captain Brenda Angeshi said the team did well to win but cited first game jitters as a major challenge.

“We struggled a little bit but that is expected being our first game but I’m sure gradually we will pick ourselves up and produce better results in the upcoming fixtures,” She said.

KPA will have a rest on Tuesday before taking on JKT of Tanzania On Wednesday and coach Ojukwu believes her rookie players will have settled by then to post even better performances.

At the same time, KPA men who lost their first match on Sunday bounced back to winning ways beating EWSA of Ethiopia 85-50.

KPA dominated first three quarters winning 18-15, 24-14, 28-6 before settling for a 15-15 draw in the last quarter with James Mwangi showing his scoring ability to notch  17 points.

KPA will be playing their third match of the tournament today when they face COBRA of South Sudan.

On the other hand,  after getting free points following  a walkover over New Stars who didn’t turn up for the first match, Strathmore  Blades lost failed to build up on  gifted points losing  51-61 to Oilers of Tanzania.

Blades head coach Tony Ochieng said lack of strong start made them lose the game.

Blades will be meeti Al-Alhy of Egypt today which Ochieng believes is a superior side by all means.

Last year’s finalists Equity Bank women team will be playing their first match today against UCU of Uganda.