Basketball in Africa

Eagle Wings continued to impress at the East and Central Africa Basketball Club Championship in Kampala, Uganda.

They thrashed National University of Rwanda (UNR) 77-55 at Makere University grounds yesterday.

The Kenya Basketball Federation women’s Premier League champions, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), had a rough start in their quest to defend the regional trophy as well as qualify for the Zone Five championship in Benin in September. They, nevertheless, overcame Kampala International University’s Rangers 92-58 shortly after the Wings’ match.

KPA won the first quarter 32-18 to lead 53-34 at half time. After the break, KPA who, were hungry for a win owing to their poor performance in their first game, made the scores 78-45 and 92-58 in the third and last quarters to carry the day.

KPA women had a difficult time tackling APR of Rwanda who walloped them 64-39 at YMCA Social Hall in a battle in which KPA’s Yvonne Akinyi managed only seven points as the game high.

"KPA were down and their guards ineffective. APR are younger and played a fast-paced game that KPA failed to match," said a Kenyan official who was at the venue.

Anastacia Njeri, who sunk 18 goals for Wings in the opening match against A1 Challenge in which the former won 49-45, was again on target on Tuesday evening. Njeri scored a game high 16 points to put Wings 48-24 ahead of UNR at half time.

Brigit Nanzala pushed Wings, who have vowed to dethrone KPA, ahead with 10 points and the win. Umutoni Salama scored 11 points fo KIU Rangers.

Local League Champions Kenya Commercial Bank’s Lions started their hunt for the men’s trophy on a silver platter, thanks to the stringent rules at the championship.

Lions picked a walkover (20 goals and two points) after New Stars (Burundi), arrived late at the venue on Monday night.

Lions defeated Uganda champions, Falcons, 75-69 in another thrilling encounter. Local men’s league runners-up, Co-operative Bank, won their second match of the championship on Tuesday night when they edged DM Power of Uganda 63-61.

Coo-op Bank won 20-23, 12-9, 15-16 and 16-13 with the aid of Eugene Genga (20 points) and Richard Osano (13).