Basketball in Africa

Twelve teams qualified for the 2010 best-of-three series play-offs semi-finals.
Nine of the 24 teams which participated in the two-week quarter-finals knocked out their opponents on a 2-0 basis.

Only the winners in three matches had to be determined on better goal aggregate after they had tied 1-1 home and away.

Co-operative Bank were the last to join champions KCB Lions, Posta and Kenya Ports Authority in the top men’s semi-finals which start this weekend.

Students eliminated

Co-op Bank had to struggle to edge out Tigers of the USIU-A 64-60 in Sunday’s highly charged Game Two.

Although the bankers eliminated the students 2-0, it was not an easy task for them. Co-op Bank trailed in the two opening quarters 21-16 and 18-16 as Tigers went a head to overpower them 39-32 at half-time.

Tigers, who again threw away victory in their opener in the last 40 seconds going down 70-65, had built a 10 points margin (46-36) before falling down 64-60.

Aggressive forward Peter Kiganya pumped in 20 points, Eugene Genga added 12 and Brian Busu connected 15 for Co-op Bank.

Stiff challenge

Men’s teams champions KCB Lions, Posta, KPA, Co-op Bank, Ulinzi Warriors and Mennonites knocked out their weak opponents 2-0 on home away basis to qualify for the semi-finals.

Subsequently, women’s champions Eagle Wings, Yana and KPA also lacked opposition to book their tickets with a comfortable 2-0 win.

Most of the play-off quarter-finals duels were one-sided with only Strathmore University women’s team, Trail Blazers and Nakuru Club surviving stiff challenge to advance.

Strathmore University, who had lost 42-36 in the first leg, rose to the occasion to eliminate Sprite Storms beating them hands down 56-25 in the return leg.

Coach Sylvia Njeri said: “The girls were focused in the return leg in which they needed to win by seven points margin to qualify.”