Meru School edge stubborn Ambira, cruise to basketball semis

Meru School played to their last sweat to narrowly beat  Ambira Boys 90-81 to top their pool A, thus evading playing defending champions Laiser Hill in the semi-finals in the ongoing National Secondary School Games at Kangaru.

The Eastern Region champions only lost the third quarter 30-22, winning the rest by 20-11, 27-23 and 22-30 to win the match.

The most valuable player was Meru School’s Salem Bundi with 32 points against Ambira’s Odhiambo Ojwang 29 points. However, Bundi observed teamwork paid off, individual accolades matter most when a team is winning.

“If it were not for the team I wouldn’t have been the MVP, so I thank everybody in the team including the coach for helping me take this award. It is not about me, it’s about the team,” Said Salem.

The fan favourite was Meru School’s Brian Kipkorir who scored five three pointers with his magical left hand to attain 23 points to become third in the top performance list.

‘The Hustraz’ head coach Paul Muli said it was a difficult match against the stubborn Ambir, adding their brave strategy was the key factor for the victory.

Having evaded the defending champions Laiser Hill, Meru School will now play Sigalame of Western who finished second in Pool B.

“We have to work harder than before because we are heading to a difficult stage of the semi finals, facing Sigalame won’t be easy but we shall stick to our game plan which we believe will take us up to the East Africa games.”

Ambira’s head coach John Ogero says that they lost the game technically: “I take each game at a time and these are students, so we have to understand their level. Today they play well tomorrow they play differently, which you have to live with as you develop the players into stars.”

Finishing second in Pool A means they will face dreaded pool B winners Laiser Hill, but the coach is unperturbed.

“My focus tomorrow (Friday) is to lock Laiser Hill three pointer players because their style of play rotation and movement is very fast. That’s how they won against Sigalame High, so I will force them play inside the lane for a victory,” he charged.

In the girls category to be played tomorrow at 9:00 am,  Kaya Tiwi will play Loreto while Buru Buru Girls will face Butere Girls at the same time.