Basketball in Africa

Kenyan clubs Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Eagle Wings over the weekend claimed the Fiba Africa Zone Five club championships with easy wins during the finals played at the Ministry of Sports, Bujumbura, Burundi.

Co-op easily whipped home side New Stars 69-40 while Wings flew all over APR of Rwanda recording another one sided 75-43 victory. What was expected to be closely fought final matches turned out to be cake walk for the Kenyans to the disgust of a packed home fans.

The other Kenyans teams here KCB Lions and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) were placed third in the six day tournament as KCB posted a 85-77 over time win over CSK of Rwanda while KPA triumped 64-38 over Berco Stars of Burundi respectively.

Co-op....69 Stars....40

It was Mark Mayien who hit the opening basket with a jumper before Allan Ouma made a three for a quick 5-0 lead. Stars tied the scores 5-5 on a shot by Bitoyi Kizia but again the bankers rolled away as a three pointer by Ouma made it 11-3 in the first quarter.

The second started as the first one after Melvin Oketch connected on a rebound, a Peter Kiganya three point play had the scores 23-11 and Co-op were on a roll building a 29-18 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, Eugene Genga checked in and scored four baskets to give Co-op a 43-23 advantage. The pressure mounted on the home side as the supporters were stunned into disbelief. Their three point shots that saw them nip Lions 74-72 suddenly went clank.

When Kiganya threw down a rim roasting slam that saw the scores hit 55-34, it was all over as Co-op toyed with the home side who had Uzemana Uyiie and Sibimana Fredie well contained.

Kiganya led the tally with 17 points, Ouma nailed 11 while Genga contributed eight in the second half for the champions. Kizia scored 13 and Uyiee shot 11 for the losers.

Wings.....75 APR.....43

Wings lived up to their promise and became the first self sponsored club to lift the regional trophy when they humiliated APR 75-43. It was all one sided tie as soon as Rebecca Sarange connected for the game opener that saw the winners coast to a 6-0 lead.

Anastsia Njeri burried two three pointers from the left wing before Blandine Ndays managed an opening free shot for the Rwandese as Wings moved ahead 13-5 in the first quarter.

Angela Okoth jumper from the base ignited a second quarter run and when Njeri swished a another three pointer, the scores were 27-14 in Wings favour. Rose Ouma and Janet Okoth followed that with easy scores as the winners went to the break with a solid 38-17 margin.

In the third quarter, a break by Ouma and an easy shot inside the key by Silalei Shalei made it a 30 point play at 52-22 with 2:40 still to play. Claire Connie and Wilson Janie efforts fell shot while Wings hit the target at will.

Okoth led then rout with 18 points, Salei managed 14, Njeri shot 13

Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa