Basketball in Africa

Brown Msyani
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. The RBA League curtain was brought down yesterday with JKT adding silverware to their cabinet after beating ABC 59-37in a thrilling game at the National Indoor Stadium.The tension-packed duel was a minute per minute thriller with JKT showing all signs of clinching the trophy from the ouset.

JKT will thank their hard-working player Agamu Jegame who scored 20 baskets to inspire his team to a resounding victory.The new champions embarked on the match briskly and scored in quick succession, notching 12 points, but ABC fought back to cut the deficit to two.

The second half started with ABC picking from where they left to burry nine more baskets while JKT notched five only, thus going into the breather trailing by four points (19-15).The play resumed with ABC breaking forward almost at will, but their pace did not last long before JKT regained their composure.

The champions took the game to ABC and managed to add 24 points against six scored by the highly extolled army team.ABC defence continued to break up in the fourth quarter, which gave JKT an easy task of jabbing the ball in. They scored 20 points while ABC got 12 only.

Frank Kusiga scored 14 points for winners while ABC’s Gilbert Batungi, who was well marked, managed 10 points tying with his teammate Juma Kisocky. In the third-place playoff, which pitted the pre-tournament favourites Pazi against Vijana, saw the former claim a 73-54 victory.

Pazi went to the court oozing with confidence, but could not dominate proceedings as they battled to 16-16 in the first quarter.In the second quarter, both sides attacked and defended cautiously, but still no team could have bragging rights as they tied 17-17.

Things started going astray for the losers in the third quarter when they scored eight points while conceding 18 before conceding 22 against 13 in the final quarter.Cray Bonny, who was a constant menace to Vijana guards, buried 16 points for his side.Despite Mpoki Jail’s brilliance in shooting, his 19 points did not save Vijana from a big margin defeat.In the women’s event, Jeshi Stars outlasted JKT Stars to successfully defend their title by winning 53-50 in well-contested game at the same venue.

The losers controlled the better part of the match but cracked midway the third quarter allowing Jeshi Stars to swoop and kill off the match.

Until the halftime break, the back-to back champions were leading by 27-17.After the recess, JKT Stars looked rejuvenated, but lost steam midwayThey, however, refused to back down, troubling Jeshi Stars guards in the fourth quarter, but their efforts were to no avail.