Basketball in Africa

Story by CAXTON APOLLO
Publication Date: 10/26/2007
Kenya Ports Authority entered the quarter-finals of the Africa women’s basketball club championship when they upset Lupopo of Democratic Republic of Congo 53-37 in their last preliminary round tie in Maputo, Mozambique on Wednesday.

The Kenyans, who had been ruled out of the running after losing all their three Pool “B” preliminary round matches, rose to the occasion on the last day to finish in the top four.

On Wednesday, KPA got off to a bright start against Lupopo and led 16-12 in the first quarter. Lupopo then turned the game round to squeeze a 13-10 second quarter run, but the Kenyan girls led 26-25 at the breather.

On resumption, coach Anthony Ojukwu’s team took a huge 19-3 third quarter lead to enhance their quarter-final prospects. However, Lupopo, who finished bottom in the five-team Pool “B,” struggled to overcome KPA 9-8 in the last quarter but it was too late to stop the Kenyans, who broke in dance to celebrate their achievement.

Agnes Anyango led KPA with 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals while team-mate Miriam Awuor managed 10 points and seven assists.

The victory saw KPA finish fourth with five points from one win and three losses.

The Kenyans now have a mountain to climb in the quarter-finals, where they meet Pool “A” winners and hosts Desportivo of Mozambique.

Desportivo concluded their preliminary round matches with a 43-37 win over Cote d’Ivoires’ Abijan Basketball Club (ABC) to finish top with 10 points. They won all their five matches.

KPA finished 10th in last year’s championship in Gabon. Their best performance was 2005, when they finished fourth overall.

All the three host teams qualified for the quarter-finals.

Desportivo and Ferroviaro booked a ticket from the six-team Pool “A” after preliminary round matches.