Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) won their last African Feminine Championships when they beat Arc en Ciel of DR Congo 72-60 in Libreville, Gabon.

The match, played on Thursday, was the porters’ last of a competitive five-game fixtures. They were knocked out of the tournament’s quarter-finals on goal aggregate.

KPA took 14 players, including two school girls, to the continental event and found out the going was rough from start. They won two games and lost three.

The pool B was won by former champions and favourites First Bank of Nigeria. Angola’s Inter, Somo of Gabon, ISPU of Mozambique all finished ahead of KPA who were ahead of Arc.

Meanwhile, champions Predators face off against Catholic Dream Team (CDT) in the finals of Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) at Railways Club today.

The match to be played in the best-of-three series is expected to be a cracker considering that CDT have been promoted to the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s Premier League.

Win or lose, CDT, a self-sponsored team from Kayole, are assured of a move from the provincial league since Predators declined to climb up.

Valentine Apondi, Predators’ leading scorer, will need the help from Dorothy Ouko, Emily Ongoro, Jenniffer Ashihundu and Josephine Nabwire if they are to win back to back title.

But the six-person team, led by the evergreen Dorah Achieng, Gloria Irampa, Quinter Ramogi, Evelyne Mayobo, Kate Olang and Doreen Araka are going for nothing short of an upset.

"We will go there and fight against those teams in the premiership. I am sure we will make it up there."

said the team’s key guard and treasurer, Mayobo.

The men’s finals series ended easily as Runda captured the title when they humiliated Kenya Polytechnic 2-0 (79-45, 78-69) behind Ben Oluoch’s 55 and 35 from Ken Ondiek.