Basketball in Africa

By PHILIP ONYANGO

Kenya Ports Authority lost their last preliminary round match 67-49 to defending champions Desportivo of Angola in the Africa women’s basketball club championships at Nyayo Stadium on Tuesday.

The win ensured Desportivo, who are yet to lose a match, finished top of their group with a maximum eight points as preliminary matches ended Tuesday.

Teams to occupy second, third and fourth places were to be decided when Rwanda Patriotic Army play CSA from Cote d’Ivoire later Tuesday.A win for the APR would see them take second position while CSA would remain third and KPA fourth in the group.

However, a win for CSA would see KPA remain third place while CSA and APR would occupy second and fourth positions respectively. It was KPA’s Agnes Anyango who scored the first basket, which was, however, quickly cancelled by Deolinda Ngulela.

A free throw by Sokhna Lisky and a board shot from Anabel Kosa saw Deportivo lead 5-2 before Caroline Arato scored a free throw for a 5-3 score.

Joyce Makhungu, Brenda Angeshi and Velma Naliaka combined for 11 points as KPA closed the gap to 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.

The second half was evenly contested, especially after the introduction of Kenya under-18 guard Helen Oketch, whose aggressive defensive play made life difficult for Desportivo.

With the victors leading 22-19, Oketch nailed a three-pointer to tie the score 22-22, the closest KPA came to the Mozambicans.

Oketch was substituted by Mwajuma Suleiman and Desportivo were at it again with the trade mark three points for a 29-23 half time score and 51-36 score in the third quarter.

Ngulela scored a game high 20 points including four three-pointers in the fourth quarter while Lisky contribuited 12 points.

Makhungu was KPA’s top scorer with 16 points while Everlyne Akoth, one of the tournaments best shooters, scored nine points.

In a match played at the same venue earlier, DR Congo’s Victoria Club defeated Uganda’s KCC 61-57 to finish fifth in the group.

Kenya’s Eagle Wings, who are yet to win a match, lost 99-44 to Premero de Agosto from Mozambique on Monday night.

The other group A match saw ABC from Cote de Ivoire beat a disjointed Djoliba from Mali 60-44.

Both teams however qualified for the quarter finals in this group whose leaders are Premero de Agosto with First Bank occupying the second position. Wednesday is a rest day.