Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

United States International University (USIU) and Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (KCITI) won the University and Colleges League at the weekend.

USIU dominated this first tournament of the year which was played at their own backyard. The Tigers, as the team is fondly referred to, beat Kenyatta University Pirates 68-59. The victors were up 33-31 at the break.

Last month, USIU travelled to Kampala, Uganda, and claimed the annual ABE Lincoln trophy. The annual tournament attracted 32 teams. The participating teams included five Kenyan clubs. Predators won the women’s show.

KCITI Ladycats took a close 15-14 lead at the breather and hanged on to blank USIU Flames 39-33. S. Bosire and Griffin Ligare won the Most Valuable Players awards.

The tournament was a curtain raiser for the colleges league which throws off this wekend at the USIU courts. Pirates coach, Gitau Waringo, said he was using the event to prepare for the Premier League due to start on April 1 in Nairobi.

The veteran coach, who guided the varsity side to the top league twice, is convinced the current crop of players, many of whom will be with the side for at least three more years, will fit into the team.