Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

East and Central African club champions, KCB Lions, fell 76-78 to United States International University (Usiu) in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League match at Nyayo Stadium gymnasium at the weekend.

The victory enhanced the team’s, popularly known as Tigers, chances of making the four-team play offs next month. Abel Nson nailed 28 points, while Dan Okwiri shot 15. Tobias Ocholla and Juma Ikapian scored 21 and 14 points for KCB.

Nakuru Club did not honour their fixtures against International Christian Centre, giving the latter two easy points.
They have missed three consecutive matches that will cost them dearly.

In lower division matches, Telkom nipped Java Warriors 93-92, while Kisumu extended Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) woes with a 88-73 defeat.

Meanwhile, four Nairobi Basketball Association teams for the provincial play-offs in Kisumu were known at the weekend following matches played at Railways Club.

Runda, Kenya Polytechnic, African Nazarene University and Blazers are the teams.
They booked their tickets to the lakeside town next month with contrasting wins.

Runda beat Team Jam 75-46 with Ken Ondiek nailing 19 points. Kenya Poly beat Old Pirates 65-63.

Outidaz shocked Blazers 55-47, but missed out as they had an inferior aggregate. Peter Gathungu and Zico Kadir shot 25 points. Joel Atebe made 11 for Blazers.
Gerald Masibey scored 16 points as ANU went past Langata Crusaders 54-43. Fidel Maithya made 11 for the losers.

In the women’s matches, Nairobi Pentecostal Church beat Strathmore University 31-26, while Mennonites edged Kenyatta University 58-51.

Meanwhile, national women’s champions Kenya Ports Authority have been confirmed for the Africa women club championships, a top KBF official said.

T porters, league winners for the last four years, will carry the nation’s flag in the continental tournament set for Libreville, Gabon next month.