Basketball in Africa

Playing their best game ever in the competition, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Friday put up a big fight against Desportivo basketball club of Mozambique in the first quarter-final match of the 13th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women at the Maxaquene gymnasium, Maputo, though they lost the match but the Kenyan held their own against all expectation.

The Kenyan lost the first quarter 12-10 but came back strongly to pick the second quarter 14-07 points to take a first half lead of 21-19 points.

They however, crumbled in the third and fourth quarters (17-12 and 18-09) with Senegalese Desportivo import, Salimata Diatta playing an important role in her side wins with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals.

Diara Dessai added 14 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds to help the Maputo-based side book a semi-finals ticket.

Desportivo will meet tomorrow in semi finals, the winner of the game between Djoliba of Mali and ISPU of Mozambique schedule at 20.00 today.