Mixed fortunes for Kenyan teams in FIBA openers

Kenya and Zone Five representatives at the FIBA Africa Clubs Championships posted mixed results on Saturday as the annual competition tipped off at the Maxaquene Gymnasium in Maputo, Mozambique.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) outclassed Lakers of Zimbabwe 80-58 in their opening match of group B as Equity Bank Women went down 45-68 to home team Ferroviaro Maputo.

KPA won the opening three quarters 24-12, 18-17, 22-13 and having built a 22-point lead, the Kenyan champions eased on the gas to draw 16-16 in the final quarter.

“It’s a pretty good feeling for us as we move on into more games in the championship and we hope for better performance,” KPA Captain Brenda Angeshi said.

Coach Anthony Ojukwu’s charges next play First Bank of Nigeria on Sunday before subsequent face-offs against MB2ALL of Madagascar and INSS of Democratic Republic of Congo who complete the five-team group.

Africa Zone Five winners Equity Bank were made to pay for a casual start, losing 17-10, 12-10 before they were blown out 25-9 in the third quarter as Ferroviaro capitalized on home advantage.

The Bankers recovered to win the final quarter in a marginal 14-16 but it was little too late as they slumped to a 45-68 defeat.

The Kenyan giants will have Sunday to regroup before returning to the court on Monday for a clash against Forces Armees Police (FAP) of Cameroon and later Inter clube of Angola and Victoria Club of DRC who are all in Pool A.

In other results Inter Clube of Angola smashed FAP of Cameroon in their opening match 74-66 in group A while in group B MB2ALL of Madagascar were walloped 74-40 by First Bank.

Sunday Fixtures

I.N.S.S of DRC VS MB2ALL of Madagascar

V-CLUB of DRC VS Interclube of Angola

KPA of Kenya VS First Bank of Nigeria

Ferroviario Maputo of Mozambique VS FAP of Cameroon.