Basketball in Africa

IVAN Enabu earned himself the bragging rights as the best point guard in the FUBA basketball league after he inspired the Kyambogo Warriors past 67-60 a struggling KIU Titans on Saturday night.

Unstoppable on the night, Enabu scored a game high 18 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals to convincingly go home with the man-of-the-match accolade as his side registered a 15th league win to remain on top of the table standings.
But enabu downplayed his individual brilliance on the night in preference for team effort.
   "We thank God so much because we played as a team and we won the game," explained an excited Enabu after the game.
Warriors dominated the first half sinking 23-18 and 17-10 but were outscored 14-10 and 18-17 in the third and fourth quarters despite the much needed win.
   "We did not play good defense today but we shall work on that during the week," admitted Mande Juruni, the Warriors head coach.
Henry Malinga and Michael Kariuki added 15 and 12 points respectively for the 2009 league champions while Titans' skipper Abraham Juma scored a team high 15 points for the university side but could not inspire them to victory.
Teammates Martin Taylor, Moses Olobo and Brian Wati sunk 13, 13 and 11 points each in that order but failed to register a seventh league win. KIU has played 16 games, six wins and 10 losses but still has hopes of making it to the playoffs.
   "We did not play well today but we have to keep up with the focus and win our remaining games," said an expectant Nimrod Kaboha, the KIU coach.

FUBA basketball league
Saturday results
Men, Division 1
KIU Titans 60 Warriors 67

Division 3
Biston Planet 00 Livingstone 20 (walkover)
Sharing Youth 56 City Oil 57
Ssaku 69 Sky Jammers 76
Kampala University 79 Crane High 78

Women
Makerere Sparks 56 Amazon Rhino 32
Nabisunsa 53 A-1 Challenge 42

First Deepwater retained the Zenith female basketball league by beating arch rival First Bank female basket ball team in an entertaining final Saturday night.

The Babalola girls overpowered the Elephants girls by three quarters to one to bagged the first prize money of N1million.
Led by diminutive Nkechi Akashili, the Deepwater ladies stood toes to toes with the ever domineering First bank ladies mostly comprising national team players.
At the end the Deepwater girls won 17-16, 13-11, 16-19 and 19-11 thus changing the face of women basketball in Nigeria.
First Bank for their efforts were rewarded with a sum of N750,000 while the third placed team Sunshine Queens of Akure who placed third went home with N500,000.
National team player, Nkechi Akashili who posted a brilliant run in the final won the Most Valuable Player award and the Highest scorer award..
Speaking after the event, an elated President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, Alhaji Tijani Umar praised the standard displayed by all the participating teams and reassured that with the performance sky will be the limit for Nigeria in the sport.
   " I am happy that the momentum in female basketball in Nigeria is changing with the emergence of new champions," he said.
He explained that with the emergence of new champions and the rivalry, the national technical crew will have opportunity to pick more players.
He urged corporate organizations to rally round the sport and sponsor more local competitions for the girls to be in top shape for international competitions.

UPPER Hill School beat Kenya Airways 58-49 in the 2011 Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) finals Game Two at World Hope. The win saw the students tie the five game series at 1-1. KQ pipped Upper Hill 63-62 in Game One last weekend. The students with head teacher Peter Orero calling the shots got off to a worst start trailing 10-14 in the first quarter and 9-25 in the second quarters.

But they picked themselves up and took a 19-6 third quarter edge and another 21-8 stunner in fourth quarter that left left kq grounded. Dominic Osale made 20 points and Tony Majok added 11 while Eric Ouma made good defensive contributions for the winners. The losers had 12 each from Eric Odhiambo and Emmanuel Ekai. In the women final played at the same venue, Safe Spaces moved closer to sealing the series with a 47-45 win over Africa Nazarene University (ANU).
Both teams tied 12-12 in a hotly contested first quarter. The winners shot up 15-9 in the second. ANU charged back taking the third 14-3 before defensive lapses saw Safe Spaces speed away 17-10 in the last quarter. Florence Mbithe sunk 17 while Peninah Nthenya made 9 before fouling out. Sarah Gitongu managed 10 that went with some key rejects. Mary Adhiambo and Lydia Imbali collected 8 each for the losers.

T L C vs. Shooters 9:30am
Emperors vs. Air Force 11:30am
Vegetarian vs. Rez Life 11:30am
Diamonds vs. UCU JV 1:30pm
KCC vs. Gladiators 1:30pm
Ssaku vs. Jackets 3:30pm
Stormers vs. UCU 3:30pm
Heaters vs. Canons 5:30pm
Marines vs. Power 7:30pm

November 13, the final day of the MTN-Fuba League regular season, could provide an interesting toast preceding the playoffs. Barring a court injunction being engineered by the aggrieved 7UP Falcons, that evening is crucial at the other end of the table.

The top spot heading into the postseason will be decided between champions DMark Power and Kyambogo Warriors. If both giants keep winning, Power will need to avenge Warriors’ 93-80 first round victory to leapfrog the latter. To do so, the four-time league champions must win by more than their 13-point first round losing margin to record a better head-to-head against their arch rivals.
The script could also be dominated by the earlier clash between Ndejje University Angels and KIU Titans. This game could decide the fourth and final playoff spot to join Power, Warriors and Miracle Eagles. Charging Rhino (4-12) will also be looking to see which team follows them to Division Two after the rather short 18-game season. It should never have come to this.

Throughout the first round, former champions Rhino and Youth Heaters were every blind man’s bet for a quick return to the division they only left last season. Aware of the fight ahead after winning only one game – against KIU – in the first round, Heaters acquired guard Salim Ali and forward Michael Makiasi. That really changed the landscape.
Heaters (3-12) have since won two more as Ndejje and Nkumba Marines grew even more inconsistent to throw both the relegation and postseason races wide open. Though Heaters slipped to the bottom with 18 points, there is genuine hope of avoiding the drop. They are only three points behind fourth-placed Ndejje (6-9) in the 10-team log. Such is the generosity of basketball rules that the losing team gets one point whereas the winners take two. UCU Canons (6-9) and KIU Titans (6-9) follow Ndejje in that order. Falcons’ stats of 8-8 for 20 points put them just ahead of Nkumba (5-10) due to a superior head-to-head.

The former, also six-time champions, are here having lost four games by forfeiture for fielding Kenyan forward Philip Ameny before getting clearance. It’s too close to call for all six and each one of them finds no shame in discussing the postseason prospects. Sadly, no one other than Heaters chairman Denis Osikol genuinely thinks of relegation as a possibility.

KENYA Airways will be crowned the 2011 Nairobi Basketball Association champions if they win their two games this weekend. KQ who pipped Upper Hill 63-62 in Game One at Nairobi Railways Club last week need to win the two matches set for World Hope Centre to complete a best of five game sweep.

Relying on the play making of Eric Odhiambo and the inside play of Rogers Mutai and Emmanuel Ekai, Airways remain the favourites. But they will have to keep close tabs on Samuel Dede, Martin Mugambi, Dominic Osale and Eric Ouma to clinch their first provincial title. Safe Spaces are also two games away in the women’s category after they took a 1-0 series lead after beating Africa Nazarene University 48-37 in Game One. Nancy Mutie, Peninah Nthenya, Jane Ouko and Florence Mbithe will be their key players. ANU will rely on Purity Shelly, Lydian Imbati and Emi Ikoni to turn the tables.

The Executive Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has imposed a fine of fifty thousand naira (N50, 000) on Dolphin basketball club of Lagos for failing to honour its rescheduled 2nd phase game against Sunshine Angels of Akure.
The board said it viewed Dolphin's decision to stay away from the game as a ploy capable of bringing the game to disrepute since they offered no explanation that they will not be available for the rescheduled game which held Saturday October 22, 2011, in Lagos nor registered any protest.
The NBBF ruling body acted on the report of the technical commissioner from the stalemated 2nd phase held in Akure, Ondo State in August this year and ordered a replay of the game.
The technical committee of the board also upturned Dolphin's protest against First Bank and one of its players, Evelyn Akahtor for failing to back up its claim.
In a letter dated Ref No: NBBF/NLW.65/2011/VOL.IV/237 and signed by the secretary general of the NBBF, Francis Gbiri, the player (Evelyn Akahtor) who was initially suspended by the federation's technical committee is now free to play for her desired club while all the points and grounds awarded against First Bank have also been lifted.

The hope of Kano-based Adolescent Health and Information Programme, AHIP basketball club of creating a major upset in the third and final phase of the Zenith Bank sponsored women basketball league was yesterday dimmed by defending champion, First Deepwater basketball club of Lagos. First Deepwater with the victory has maintained a clean slate in the league.

AHIP, one of the surprise team in the top flight women league in the recent past lost in all four quarters to the Oil and Gas ladies by 03-21, 08-22, 12-19 and 11-14 for a cumulative scoreline of 34-76 points.
First Deepwater point guard, Upe Atosu led her team in the challenge for a second title in three seasons with 16 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Blessing Emmanuel contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds while the duo of Nkechi Akashili and Mary Chinweukwu added 10 points each.
The champions will take on FCT Angels today in match Day-8 while AHIP battles Plateau Rocks of Jos.
Customs Lose To Delta Force
Nigeria Customs of Lagos continued their downward slide in the league losing to Delta Force of Asaba by 52-58 points. The border ladies, one-time champion of the Nigerian domestic scene won the first and third quarters by 13-08 and 17-15 but gave up the second and fourth quarters by 10-15 and 12-20.
Delta Force forward, Esther Igben led the floor with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. Customs will have their hands full today as it confront former champion, First Bank of Lagos. Delta Force will take on Nigeria Immigration Service of Kano.

TRAILBLAZERS will now travel to Kisumu to face Lakeside in the Division One play-off quarter finals. According to Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko, the self sponsored side have been given a chance in the post season games following the withdrawal of Kenya Navy. "Your team has been slotted for the above play-offs versus Lakeside on October 29 and 30 in Kisumu after Navy pulled out." said Amoko.

The official added should there be need, the match could be pushed back. He said that Umoja are on standby should Trailblazers not honour this last minute call due to financial constraints. Trailblazers finished ninth while Umoja were placed 10th in the regular season games. The other lower division tie pits home team Nakuru Club against Parklands Baptists.
This match will be played at the Menengai High School courts this weekend. University of Nairobi "Terrorists" and World Hope completed their games over the weekend. UoN locked out Nairobi Aviation College (NAC) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) respectively.

TRAILBLAZERS will now travel to Kisumu to face Lakeside in the Division One play-off quarter finals. According to Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko, the self sponsored side have been given a chance in the post season games following the withdrawal of Kenya Navy. “Your team has been slotted for the above play-offs versus Lakeside on October 29 and 30 in Kisumu after Navy pulled out.” said Amoko.

The official added should there be need, the match could be pushed back. He said that Umoja are on standby should Trailblazers not honour this last minute call due to financial constraints. Trailblazers finished ninth while Umoja were placed 10th in the regular season games. The other lower division tie pits home team Nakuru Club against Parklands Baptists.
This match will be played at the Menengai High School courts this weekend. University of Nairobi “Terrorists” and World Hope completed their games over the weekend. UoN locked out Nairobi Aviation College (NAC) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) respectively.

THE 2011 play off quarter final matches earlier planned for this weekend have been pushed back by a week according to Kenya Basketball Federation fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko. He said the the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium will not be available due to the Standard Charted marathon that will start and end at the venue. "We cannot hold matches there due to the unavailability of the venue.

As a result we have decided to have the matches played next weekend. But the matches slated outside Nairobi will go on as planned." he said. Out of the nine matches on the card, only four will be played. In the premier league tie, reigning women's champions Kenya Ports Authority will host Gladiators in Mombasa.
The other top tie will see Sprite Storms travel to Kakamega to face Western Delight while Kisumu Lakeside welcome Kenya Navy and Nakuru Club meet Parklands Baptist in a lower division tie. The other fixtures will see reigning national champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya tackling Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology.

. Jana Malbrook banks seven treys


Coach Grégoire Scholastique’s Juniors are this year’s men’s division two league champions, while Jana Malbrook continued with a her good form of late, scoring seven 3-pointers for 39 points against Cadettes in the women’s league.

According to a reliable source, the referee said he did not check his officiating schedule and could not come to the venue as he had not made provisions to get release from work and get someone else to replace him.
The Hawks’ last win was against Anse Boileau-based Angels on a 119-68 score on the back of 32 points by Nigerian import Alao Solomon, bringing their points tally to 28 after 15 games played (13 wins and two losses).
Captain Bernard Bristol and company have three matches more to play against Mont Fleuri Dawgz, Baya and MBU Rockers, while Premium Cobras were expected in action for the last time in the league yesterday against tailenders Razors.
In their previous outing, the Cobras’ twin towers of Nigerian Ajodoh Ugbaje and Seychellois Timmy Adam combined for 45 of their team’s points in a 91-62 beating of the Rockers.
Before yesterday’s match, they led the standings with 31 points (14 wins and three losses).
Mont Fleuri Dawgz collected two wins last week against Cascade Bullets 66-54 and Razors 104-55 to go second on the table with 29 points with 12 wins and five defeats in 17 games.
Cascade Bullets brought their number of wins to seven in 18 games thanks to an 84-67 victory against Anse Boileau-based Drifters who are in their first year in the top flight after winning the second division title last year.
The Bullets are 25 points, while second-from-bottom Drifters have 18.

Meanwhile, the men’s division two champions are Juniors who have finished the two-round league with 23 points after 11 wins and a loss in 12 games.
Anse Etoile’s Faizel Naiken followed his record 72-point performance against cadets with 45 points against Beau Vallon Heat as his team won 79-59 to go second in the standings with 21 points after nine wins and three defeats.
Praslin Warriors’ 67-45 victory against AAP Brothers has put them in a good position to fight for the runners-up spot with Anse Etoile.
With a match in hand on Anse Etoile, the Warriors can leapfrog them with a win and finished second behind Juniors on the head-to-head rule.
In the women’s league, Juniors had it easy against Cadettes, winning 73-29 as Jana Malbrook, 16, scored seven 3-pointers for 21 of her game-high 39 points.



G. G.

Defending champions, Police V clobbered Relics 55-47 in an exciting Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) women's league encounter on Friday night at the University of Botswana (UB) courts.


However, Relics led in the first quarter that ended 6-4 despite Police registering the first four points. Relics' Tshepo Tshambane scored the tie-breaker in the seventh minute of the highly competitive quarter. It was a good start for Relics who paraded their new blue and white kit on the day. Relics celebration was however, short lived as fortunes reversed for the younger side in the second quarter.
Their play had however, not changed as they started the quarter on a high note with Mandipha Dube and Laone Magogoba scoring the first two baskets to make it 10 - 6. A much experienced Police was nonetheless unfazed.Endie Banyaditse scored their first point through a free throw. Within the 6th and 7th minute, Police had managed to get equal with Relics. Banyaditse played a major role in ensuring that Police gain a comfortable lead as she scored 11 points in the quarter contributing to their 17-point difference as they led 27-10.
It was obvious in the third quarter that pressure had mounted on Relics who tried by all means to get back into the game. Their captain, Thandie Tumelo was so keen that she at one point ran confusedly to her team's hoop in an effort to score. Luckily she was unable to score, but the move left the action hungry spectators amused.
Nevertheless this did not demoralize Tumelo's team as they were able to re-group and narrow their point difference against Police. The quarter ended 31-40. Police went into the fourth quarter with their previous form, drawing first blood through Kelebogiloe Thwabi. Relics continued fighting back but their efforts were in vain as damage had already been done.

A cohesive Troopers side overcame stubborn BC Saints 90-54 in a Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) League match played at the UB courts on Friday night.

Charging Rhino cannot survive relegation from the MTN Fuba League men’s topflight even if they win their remaining two regular season games.

The former champions put up a gallant fight against KIU Titans on Sunday night but suffered a heartbreaking 55-51 loss at YMCA. It was Rhino’s 12th loss of the season, which leaves them joint-bottom on the 10-team table alongside Youth Heaters. Both sides have 18 points and there is little time for them to turn the tide.

PLAYING TODAY AT YMCA
Crane vs. TLC (8.30pm)
Shooters vs. Sharing (6.30pm)
At Makerere
Jackets vs. Livingstone (5pm)

Sunday results
M: UCU 51-55 KIU
W: Nabisunsa 76-55 Stormers
W: Crane 51-47 Gladiators

Division 2
Kings 44-58 Stormers
St. Michael 53-80 UCU JV

Division 3
UPDF 30-83 Shooters
Biston 52-50 Jackets
Bush Court 87-90 Jammers

MAKUPA Lakers defeated Coastal Kings 63-51 to sail through to the semi-finals of the ongoing Coast Basketball League over the weekend. Lakers were determined to fight for victory right from the start as they dominated all the quarters of the game at Mombasa Baptist High School court.

The match paved way for another one pitting Gorofani Raptors and Mombasa Polytechnic University College that saw the academicians fall 79-62 to let the Raptors proceed to the semis. Mombasa Baptis, the only high school representatives, utilised their home advantage to squeeze past Kisauni Kings 55-54 in a match full of fireworks from both sides.
Wazee from Mombasa Island were silenced 70-93 by visiting Kiembeni Hits from Kisauni constituency who swiftly booked a ticket to the semis of the league that ends this month. CBA chair, Ali Hilmy, who witnessed the matches said the winners of the competition were set to bag cash awards as well as trophies. Hilmy said "The dates of the semis will be communicated to all the participants and fans in due course".

Defending champion of the Nigeria Basketball Federation organised Zenith Bank Women league First Deepwater basketball club of Lagos yesterday recorded another win over Nigeria Immigration basketball club of Kano in the final phase of the league with a 75-57 points victory.
The Oil and Gas ladies put the game beyond the reach of the Immigration ladies in the first two quarters by 20-15 and 22-09 points for a half-time scores of 42-24 points.
The Babatunde Babalola babes however shared the last two quarters with the Kano-based Immigration side by 15-15 and 18-18 points for a final score-line of 75-57.
First Deepwater golden girl and Nigeria international guard Nkechi Akashili led her team charge for honours with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Juliet James had a double double effort of 15 rebounds and 10 points while point guard Atosu Upe poured in 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds to help their side maintain a clean slate.
Former champion First Bank basketball club of Lagos also posted another fantastic win with a 68-17 points decision of FCT Queens, AHIP had the better of Nigeria Customs Service basketball club of Lagos by 60-30 points. Plateau Rocks went down to Sunshine Angels of Akure by 37-66 points as Delta Force of Asaba kissed the floor to Dolphins of Lagos by 57-64 points.

Savio breezed past Airwing 107-68 in an exciting Ilala District Basketball Championship game at Don Bosco courts on Sunday. Silvian Yunzu was the man Savio should thank after burying 25 baskets to inspire his side to a convincing victory.

Savio, the champions of the 2010 National Basketball League, went to the courts with a clear sense of superiority having terrorised their opponents in several past meetings.
The victors started the game on a low tempo, allowing Airwing to dominate early proceedings. They scored six points in quick succession, which served as a wake up call for the victors.
Sensing the danger, Savio changed their tactics and took the game to Airwing to lead 28-17 until the end of the first quarter. Airwing showed glimpses of their best form early in the second quarter, but Savio contained them and went on to score 25-18. The second quarter win took the score to 53-35 in favour of Savio.
The third quarter was well contested with Airwing looking more determined to overturn the score.
But Savio were the victors who finished the quarter on a high note, adding 27 points against 24 garnered by Airwing. The final quarter was all Savio as the home side regained their rhythm to nail their opponents 27-9, which took the gross score to 107-68.
Amini Mtambo was also instrumental in Savio's victory after notching 12 points while Airwing's Limu Abel scored 20 points.
Sunday's other match saw Magereza edge out hard-fighting Magone 53-46.
Richard Rova was the highest scorer for Magereza with 17 points followed by Samweli Singe with 14 while Magone's Mussa Chacha scored 12. The day also saw ABC thrash Police 101-23 and PTW eased past Tanblacks 101-34 while JKT laboured to beat Changombe United 65-58.

The Temeke District Basketball Championships resumed on Saturday with JKT breezing past Biaz 121-18 at the National indoor Stadium.


JKT, who are the reigning champions of the Dar es Salaam's RBA League, made a bright start to the game, leaving their clueless opponents chasing shadows.
Cheered by a home crowd, JKT ran Biaz ragged to take a convincing 36-5 lead in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the RBA champions picked from where they left and went ahead to score 35-5, taking the score to 44-10 until the halftime break.
JKT extended their lead in the third quarter, scoring 30-4 before wrapping up the win a 10-4 fourth quarter victory.
Mkumbo Mgendi of JKT was the man of the match after scoring 22 points followed by his teammate Frank Kusiga with 18 while Christian Jacob of Biaz notched 14 points.
Saturday's other encounter pitted PTW against Police at the same venue and the former recorded a 83-34 win.

In a late fixture, ABC, who had a below par performance in the Zone V Championships, put Tan Black to the sword, thumping them 137-45.
In Kinondoni, the league also continued on Saturday and highly fancied Oilers had to labour to earn a 46-37 win against the Outsiders.
Pazi, the former RBA League champions gunning to redeem their dented image, registered a crushing 117-34 win over brothers.
Chui were also in action against Hooplife and posted a 54-40 win to keep their qualification hopes for the RBA League on track.
Chui lead the Kinondoni table with eight points followed by Pazi (seven), Outsiders (seven), Oilers (six), Insiders (five) and Hooplife trail with four points.

YMCA, Kampala - Enabu scored a game high 25 points, five assists and picked six rebounds to inspire the Kyambogo Warriors to victory past a bewildered Miracle Eagles side 63-46 on Friday night at the YMCA grounds, Wandegeya.
“I really want to thank God for this win because we did it as a team and gave it our best,” said an excited Enabu after the game.
That Enabu was the difference between the two sides is but an understatement. Warriors enjoyed an early lead in the first five minutes of the first quarter as the elusive encounter got underway 11-7 and finished the period 15-10 ahead of the Eagles.

Ulinzi Warriors made good their promise of using their experience to gun down Strathmore Blades 54-48 in the first playoffs match played at Nyayo gymnasium on Saturday. The soldiers ruled in all but the third quarter winning 18-14, 14-8 and 14-10 in the fourth while the varsity side won the third 8-16 in what appeared to be their resurgence after trailing by 15 points at the beginning of the third quarter.

The win sets one foot for the soldiers in the semi-finals but will have to wait and triumph over the students in the second game where the students have vowed to stage an upset to the soldiers and send them packing out of the league.
Victor Odendo was at it again inflicting misery on the students with three point shots nailing 12 points for the soldiers while Bernard Mufutu bagged 10. Strathmore’s Joseph Owino and Tonny Abondo each buried 8 points in the low scoring game.

Earlier, Eagle Wings led by Shani Silalei dismissed a worn out Gladiators 53-28 winning all the four quarters at 16-9, 12-8, 14-6 and 5-11 to finish the regular season at position two after defending champions. Angela Akoth bagged 10 points for Wings while Pam Cinda snatched 12 for Gladiators while in Mombasa’s Baptist school, defending champions COOP Bank fell to KPA by 9 points losing the highly contested game 64-55.
In the other league match played on Saturday at the Nyayo gymnasium Blazers beat Thunders 74-68.

Friday night must have created some kind of self doubt within Miracle Eagles ahead of their maiden appearance in the MTN-Fuba League postseason.

A 46-63 loss to Kyambogo Warriors at YMCA court was never the ideal preparation. The margin, despite not showing how close the game was for a large part of three quarters, exposed the gap between the two.
Whereas Ivan Enabu found the extra thing to light up a low-scoring contest, Miracle wilted as Warriors completed the season double. They won the first round game 79-70.
The clash was very cagey with Warriors edging the first period 15-10 before Miracle hit back in a dull second 9-6 and clinching the third 14-11. Both teams struggled
Someone had to take charge and Enabu, an off-season signing from UCU Canons, seized the opportunity. He scored eight unanswered points in a 40-second explosion mid-way through the final quarter.

The guard finished with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Enabu’s speed, agility, skills and invention all came to the fore.
When they did foul him, he responded with a perfect eight from eight on the charity line. This is one area Enabu has improved greatly.
“Miracle played very tough defence in the first three quarters so we opted for an inside game,” Warriors coach Mandy Juruni said.
Somehow, Enabu didn’t get loud applause from Juruni. “I think the players showed lots of desire,” the coach noted.
Warriors have now beaten all the three other teams in the play-off positions having already toppled UCU Canons (twice) and DMark Power.
Miracle skipper Stephen Omony, who had a poor night with six points and 16 rebounds, doesn’t see a problem psychologically. “On the contrary, we will take this as motivation and a lesson,” Omony said.

The KBF Premier League playoffs are set to kick off this weekend with Strathmore Blades booking an appointment with Ulinzi Warriors in the first match to be played this weekend. The game is set to be a baptism of fire for both teams as none is willing to relent on their quest for the title this season, any result short of a victory will be unacceptable for either although both are in consonance with one reality; in basketball there are never ties, one team must win.
Both teams have snatched a win from the other this season with Blades’ win being the most memorable when David Ogolla buried a last second three point shot to force a 62-63 win for the varsity students. The soldiers won the second leg of their regular season meeting at 66-62.
“We know there is only one result after the two legs, you are either in or out of the title search. Strathmore is a good side but we will use our experience to ensure we get back the title this season.” Said Ulinzi coach Eliud Nzioka.
Playoffs are ‘two-legged’ ties normally played on a ‘home and away’ basis where even basket difference counts and with this in the minds of both teams, fans should expect a charged game with the students hoping for a repeat of their Friday Basketball Night triumph over the soldiers while soldiers are having their eyes fixed on the crown that they once used to rule.
Warriors’ assault will be led by Bernard Mufutu, Kenyan internationals Victor Odendo and Ancette Wafula while Blades will rely on the speed of Tonny Abondo and the power of Ronald Gundo to make a meal of the battle-hardened soldiers whose defense has always proved a hard nut to crack for most teams this season.

A suivre ce vendredi 21 octobre L’Shi sport-Panda, Molokai-Etoile D’Or

Huit matches étaient à l’affiche hier jeudi 20 octobre pour compte de la 28ème Coupe du Congo de basket-ball. Plus de la moitié de ces rencontres s’étaient jouées sous un soleil accablant handicapant ainsi la bonne prestation des athlètes. Néanmoins, les férus de la balle au panier qui s’étaient déplacés avaient suivi avec intérêt la rencontre L’shi Sport face à Ouragan du Nord-Kivu. Les Katangais ont gagné non sans avoir souffert. Score du match 61-51. Il en est de même du match Maendeleo du Sud-Kivu face à Etoile D’Or de la Province Orientale. Les Sud-Kivutiens ont gagné 86-57.
*Tous les résultats de la 6ème journée hier jeudi 20/09
L’shi Sport-Ouragan : 61-51 Radi-Mt Carmel : 109-18 Tourbillon(Kin)-Gazelle(Kin) (F ) : 81-25 Maendeleo- Etoile D’or : 86-57 Ami B.K-CSM : Panda-Mazembe : Molokaï-Onatra : Quartier Mission- L’shi Sport :

*Suite du calendrier 7ème journée ce vendredi 21/10/2011
8h30 : Arc-En-Ciel-Gazelles : 10h00 : Ami B.K- Victoire : 11h30 : Hatari-Lumière 13h00 : Molokai-Etoile D’Or 14h30 : Onatra/Kin-Maendeleo 16h00 : L’shi Sport-Panda 17h30 : Mazembe-Radi 19h00 : Mazembe-Quartier Mission

* Composition des poules dans les deux versions :
Chez les messieurs Poule A : Molokaï/Kin, Onatra/Kin, CSM/Kin, Etoile D’Or /Province Orientale, Ami BK du Sud-Kivu, Malendeo/Sud-Kivu et Victoire du Bas-Congo Poule B : Mazembe/Katanga, Onatra/Matadi, Lubumbashi Sport, Panda/Katanga, Quartier Mission/Katanga et Ouragan du Nord-Kivu.

Chez les dames Poule A : INSS/Kin, Radi/Katanga, Mont Carmel/Nord-Kivu, Hatari/Bas-Congo et Mazembe/Katanga. Poule B : Arc-En-Ciel/Kin, Hatari/Kin, Gazelle/Sud-Kivu, Tourbillon/Kin et Lumière du Bas-Congo

THE U-18 youth basketball training camp involving students from various secondary schools in Mwanza came to an end in the city on Thursday.

Mwanza-based Planet Social Development (PSD) had organized the camp in co-operation with a Dar es Salaam firm, Mambo Basketball, with a view to promote the sport in the region.
PSD official, Kizito Bahati, said the event, which had been taking place at the CCM-Kirumba Stadium, involved a total of 81 youngsters, in which the boys totalled 68 and the rest were girls.
Bahati said the camp targeted to, among others, spot basketball talents and seek ways to develop them in an effort to effectively promote the sport as per the call made by the sport's governing body in the country, Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF).
   "The event also focused on providing training through videos, which is part of the programme that will be conducted next year in co-operation with a basketball coach from Canada's Memorial Newfound University basketball programme," he said.
The camp also aimed at providing opportunity for basketball coaches in Mwanza to exchange ideas and experiences among each other so that they could play a crucial part in maintaining successful organization of the programme in future.
Bahati said the event succeeded another successful training camp held in Dar es Salaam in July, this year, in which youngster, Alphaeus Kisusi, won a partial scholarship at the Memorial Newfound University after putting impressive displays in the camp.
   "The camp further geared towards fostering better co-operation between Mambo Basketball and PSD firms in a bid to realize the targets set forth by the two firms, whose officials attended a training programme in the United States in 2009 under sponsorship from the Embassy of the United States in Tanzania," he said.

First Bank female basketball team posted a sparkling performance in the ongoing Zenith female basketball championship in Lagos.
The team comprising majority of the national female team members humiliated Plateau Rocks ladies by 70 points margin winning at 96 to 26 points.
The Coach Owolo ladies won in all the quarters at 20-7, 28-8, 21-8 and 27-3 to lead their group.
First Bank coach said after the match that they are poised to regain the title lost to First Deepwater last year.
   "We know the task will be a Herculean one, but we are prepared for the battle to regain our number one position in the country. The girls are in good shape are they ready for any opposition," he said.
In the other matches played earlier in the day, the defending champion, First Deepwater defeated Sunshine Ladies of Akure 68-58 points
First Deepwater won the match by 17-16, 9-13, 17-17 and 22-17. Also on Thursday, Delta Queens beat Ahip by 54 to 49 points while Dolphins blew away Immigration by 69-43 points.
The championship which being played in a round robbin comes to an end next weekend.

Kenya Airways, Upper Hill School, Barclays Bank and Strathmore University will represent Nairobi in the Inter-Provincial Play-offs next month in Mombasa. The four teams booked their tickets for the play-offs after making it to the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) semi-finals. The top two sides from the tournament will be promoted to the national Division One next year.

Meanwhile, the NBA finals that will determined this year's champions starts today at the Railways Club from 12:30pm with Kenya Airways taking on last year's runners Upper Hill School in a five-game series. Kenya Airways shut out Strathmore University 3-0 while Upper Hill locked out BBK 3-1 to set up final series date.
In the ladies finals that also tips off today, Safe Spaces will square it out with and Africa Nazarene University (ANU) in matches that will also be played on a five game series format. Safe Spaces shut out Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) while Nazerene beat BBK with a similar 3-0 series win.

Defending champion of the Nigeria Basketball Federation organised Zenith Bank Women league First Deepwater basketball club will tomorrow opened her title chase campaign in the final phase of the league.

The high profile match will be a test case for the Oil and Gas ladies coached by Coach Lateef 'Latua' Erinfolami is the first among the nine game of the phase at the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos.
First Deepwater Chairman, Engr. Babatunde Babalola has urge his players to go all the way in its attempt to retain the Nigeria domestic league title.
Babalola says the players and their handlers will be handsomely rewarded should they retain the league diadem they won last year.
The Oil and Gas mogul told Trustsports that he is satisfy with the performance of the team who is just three seasons old in the Nigeria top flight league.
The club last weekend hosted its playmaker Nkechi Akashili to a reception for being part of the bronze winning and fourth place finish of the Nigeria senior women national team at the 10th All Africa Games and 22nd Afrobasket for Women in Mozambique and Mali.
The defending champion will take on Delta Force of Asaba on October 21 it will be the turn of Plateau Rocks of Jos to test the might of the champion on October 22 while it will have another test game against Dolphins basketball on October 23.
Coach Erinfolami and his wards will continue their search for a second consecutive title ambition when they stake their pride against Nigeria Immigration basketball club of Kano before the break on resumption on October 26 First Deepwater of Lagos will take on Adolescent Health and Information Programme (AHIP) basketball club of Kano and it will take on FCT Queens of Abuja on October 27.
The champion biggest test comes on October 28 against former champion First Bank and round off her campaign against the Nigeria Customs Service basketball team on October 29.
Coach Erinfolami says his players are battle ready and would approach each game as if it's the last.
The former Nigeria international is optimistic that First Deepwater will retain the title for a second season running and go on to do the nation proud at both the FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifiers which the club has bided to host and the final round of the Africa Champions Club for Women.

An 18-year-old Kenyan rising basketball star is causing ripples in United States and has been tipped by coaches as a future star in the making. Joel Awich, who recently moved to NCAA Division 1 California Polytechnic State University ‘Mustangs’ Big West Conference from Minnesota Tartans, is being looked at as a player with great potential.

The 6-7 forward, and son of former Barclays Eaglets and Kenya national team player Lynette Atieno, is touted as a perfect athlete and a hidden gem by coaches who have seen him in action. Awich star rose high when he joined Minnesota Pump and Run programme that saw him play in Denever, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
He averaged 8.7 points per game, registered 13 double digit scores last year and led his previous team Minnesota Titans in rebounding. “Joel is a perfect fit for Cal Poly basketball programme. He is a great student, great person and versatile athlete,” his coach Joe Callero said of the youngster who has received the most improved player honours three times. Awich scored a season high best of 16 points in a 64-57 win over spring Lake Park.

Referees are crucial for any competitive matches to take place, but they can also spoil the game with their bad and unfair decisions and most notably with their absence.

Three matches were not played during the weekend as no referees showed up. Among those was the men’s division one encounter between defending champions PLS Hawks and former champs Baya who had prepared hard for the top-flight encounter.
The referees also decided to stay away for both of Sunday’s matches although two teams – HotShots and Drifters – had travelled all the way from Anse Boileau to Victoria to play. HotShots were to play Juniors in the women’s league and Drifters were to clash with Cascade Bullets in a men’s division one game.
Speaking to Sports Nation, a disgusted Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) chairman Roy Collie said: “It’s an unacceptable situation that referees decide to shun matches. Something must be done to resolve this situation which looks bad on the federation.”
Asked what will happen to referees who deliberately skip matches or do not bother to look for replacements when they cannot be present as a result of their professional obligations, Mr Collie replied:
   “There’s nothing in writing, but the SBF executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the matter fully.”
The fact that players and fans who take out their frustrations of their teams’ failures on the referees whose job is to interpret the laws of the game to the players, are hit with long-term bans, referees have to be more serious as paid spectators can turn towards the SBF to have their tickets refunded. This could turn out to be a mess.
Mr Collie noted that both HotShots and Drifters have made it clear they will make written claims for transport fares after their matches were not played.
“Each claim costs the SBF R1,000 and if all the six teams send in written claims we will have to refund a total of R6,000. Where do we get this money? Referees don’t realise that their boycotting or simply skipping matches is hurting the game and the federation,” said Mr Collie who added that two HotShots supporters have been banned until the end of the season for using abusive language towards the officials.
Although HotShots narrowly won the women’s title decider 55-53 against Anse Etoile Stars, it was not enough to earn them their fourth league title in a row as the Stars dethroned them.
Meanwhile, on the court, Premium Cobras returned from a two-point half-time deficit to outscore Mont Fleuri Dawgz 41-28 in the second half for a 65-54 win on Saturday.
Top scorer with 27 points in Cobras’ 83-75 win over PLS Hawks the weekend before, Nigerian Ugbaje Ajodoh again led them with 20 points as they stay top on the 10-team standings with 29 points after 13 wins and three losses.
The defeat was the Dawgz’ fifth in 15 games and they have 25 points – the same total as Baya who also boast the same win-lose record.
RC Dynamics conceded two defeats in five days – losing 62-73 to MBU Rockers and 79-89 to Angels – to find themselves in eighth place on the table with 22 points after five wins and 12 losses in 17 games played.
Anse Boileau-based Angels who got a game-high 35 points from Keiren Agathine, are in sixth position with 24 points (seven wins and 10 losses), while MBU Rockers are the current runners-up with 27 points (12 wins and three losses).

In the men’s division two league, leaders Juniors have opened a six-point lead on runners-up Anse Etoile whom they beat 86-48. They have 23 points after winning 11 of their 12 matches, while Anse Etoile, who also lost 49-59 away to Praslin Warriors during the weekend, have a 7-3 win-lose record for 17 points – the same total as the Praslin-based team.
In the only women’s match played, Mont Fleuri consolidated third place in the standings with a 75-26 win over bottom team Cadettes.
G. G.

By Usher Komugisha

KCCA Leopards defeated hosts Jeshi stars of Tanzania 60-52 in the Africa Zone V club championships third place playoff in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania on Saturday.
Leopards won three of their four games in the preliminary round robin tournament defeating Burundi's Berco stars, Ethiopia's Government Housing Agency and eventual champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) but fell to Tanzania's Jeshi stars.
   "It was very competitive and the ladies have picked up all the necessary lessons to come back home and continue with serious business," said a proud Timothy Odeke, Leopards head coach.
The Ugandan outfit shockingly lost to Berco stars in the semi-finals on Friday 65-61 following Leopards' captain Flavia Oketcho injury, however, coach Odeke insists that the experience from this tournament is enough to build on back home.
Leopards are unbeaten in the FUBA basketball league and are eyeing the national crown at the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Burundi's Urunani defeated back-to-back champions Kenya's Cooperative Bank to lift their maiden regional title.
Urunani shocked two time champions APR 59-58 in the semi-finals while Cooperative Bank thrashed countrymen Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 87-71.

Mogadishu — When Al-Shabaab militants called the Somali national women's basketball team captain, Suweys Ali Jama, and told her she had two options: to be killed or to stop playing basketball, she decided that neither was really an option at all.
"I will only die when my life runs out - no one can kill me but Allah ... I will never stop my profession while I am still alive," Jama told IPS.
   "Now, I am a player, but even if I retire I hope to be a coach - I will stop basketball only when I perish," Jama said.
The Al-Qaeda-linked military group controls large parts of Somalia and occupied almost half of the country's capital, Mogadishu, until its surprise withdrawal on Aug. 6. However, the group's presence in the city remains as Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for an attack on the capital on Oct. 4, which killed at least 70 people.
Now Jama and members of her team have received death threats from the Islamic militant group, which views women's participation in sport as "un-Islamic".
In August 2006 the Somali Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a group of Sharia courts, issued an order banning Somali women from playing sport calling it the "heritage of old Christian cultures." At the time the ICU controlled Mogadishu, but lost control of the city in December 2006.
Al-Shabaab, which was the armed wing of the ICU, has not altered their stance on women playing sport.
Aisha Mohamed, the deputy captain of the national women's basketball team, said the militants also threatened her.
"'You are twice guilty. First, you are a woman and you are playing sports, which the Islamic rule has banned. Second, you are representing the military club who are puppets for the infidels. So we are targeting you wherever you are,' Islamists warned me during phone calls. But I am still clinging to my profession," Mohamed told IPS.
Mohamed is one of the prominent national team members who belong to the Somali military sports club, Horseed. Mohamed's mother is a former member of the women's national team and she has been playing the sport since she was a child.
Basketball is the second-most popular sport in Somalia after football and, aside from handball, is the only other sport that Somali women play. However, women earn meager salaries as professional basketball players.
   "I am a human being and I fear, but I know that only Allah can kill me," 21-year-old Mohamed said echoing Jama's sentiments.
So the team is training for December's Arab Games in Qatar inside the safety of the bullet-ridden walls of the Somali police academy's basketball court.
On a day with a clear blue sky overhead the women, dressed in loose fitting tracksuits and T-shirts and wearing headscarves, sprint from one end of the court to another amid the presence of hundreds of policemen.
When they are done they line up to take shots at the basketball hoop. All week they train for two hours a day here and only take off on Thursdays and Fridays - the Muslim weekend.
In the evening when the women leave the safety of the training base they swap their training gear for the anonymity of the traditional Islamic dress and veil. They also wear a Yashmak, a small piece of cloth to cover their faces.
Somalia's first women's national basketball team was formed in 1970 and participated in African and regional competitions over the years despite never winning a tournament, according to the National Olympic Committee President Aden Hajji Yeberow.
But the 2006 ban on women playing sports halted the growth of women's basketball in this East African nation said Somali Basketball Federation Deputy Secretary-General Abdi Abdulle Ahmed.
   "The Islamist ban led to some women (quitting the sport), because of fear," Ahmed told IPS.
President of the Somali Basketball Federation Hussein Ibrahim Ali said that whenever women's involvement in basketball grows, something occurs to set the sport back.
The 2006 Islamist ban, which lead to nearly two hundred women quitting the sport because of fear of reprisals, was one such incident. The two decades of civil war in the country, was another. Since mid- July a severe drought has affected the country, with famine declared in regions of southern Somalia.
Ali added that lack of sponsorship and insecurity were the biggest killers of sport in Somalia.
"So when the world knows that Somalia has undergone such hardships and our women are playing in an international tournament, this would really be great publicity for the whole country and, in particular, for the basketball federation," Ali said.
The women's coach Ali Sheik Muktar said that he is hopeful that his team will be successful in the upcoming Arab Games.
"To have a women's team means a lot to Somalia," Ali said.

Coach Anthony Ojukwu was over the moon on Monday after steering Kenya Ports Authority to the Fiba Africa Zone Five club title in Dar es Salaam at the weekend.

After a false start in the regional tournament, the dockwomen beat Berco Stars 57-42 of Burundi in Sunday’s thrilling final.

KENYA Ports Authority over the weekend booked a ticket to the Africa club championships when they re-captured the Fiba Africa Zone Five women’s crown by beating Berco Stars of Burundi 57-42 in the final at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. But the reigning men’s champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya surrendered the title they won in Bujumbura last year when they fell 69-61 to Urunani of Burundi. Both teams had earlier played in the preliminary round matches where Co-op Bank prevailed 56-49.

The dock women who had gone into this final with two loses, one against the same Burundians did their home work well to book a ticket to the continental club tournament slated for later this year. KPA controlled the game straight from the tip off taking a close 10-9 first quarter lead. They were ahead 13-10 in the second quarter.
After the break, KPA raked in baskets to take a 19-11 cushion before icing the cake in the fourth with a 15-12 score. Veteran Joyce Makungu bagged 12 points while defensive ace Hellen Okoth collected 10 for the new champions. Berco were lifted by Inas Nezerwa who posted 12 and Kalume Sifa who scored 11. The new champions had lost 41-40 to the Burundians in an earlier tie.

Monday, 17 October 2011 13:31


digg
Brown Msyani,
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania hosted the two-week Zone V Basketball Championship, but had nothing to be proud about after the curtains were brought down on Saturday. Jeshi Stars (women), who lost 60-52 to KCC Leopards of Uganda, were primed to win respect for Tanzania, but had little to offer when they finished fourth.
Their men counterparts Savio, a dominant force in the country, settled for the fifth place after going downing fighting 69-64 to KBC of Rwanda.
As if the defeats were not enough, the Tanzanian players could not emerge winners in individual categories. Sifa Kalume of Berko Stars was on Saturday announced the best player of the tournament after being inspirational for her team.
The Burundian had a tremendous for Berko Stars despite going down to KPA of Kenya in the final 57-42.
   “I am delighted to win this honour, I never expected to land it because there were lots of players who also deserved it,” Kalume said after picking her prize.
Kalume was a notable figure in Berko Stars’ victories over KPA in an earlier game before scoring points galore to down KCC in a semi-final encounter.
The best three-pointer scorer win went to Flavia Okocho of KCC while the best rebound grabber was Berko Stars’ Nerelwa Inas

In the men’s event, the three-pointe prize went to Mhure Elibo of Rwanda’s KBC and the rebound grabber was Benuenue Neandu of APR of Rwanda.
Urunani of Burundi were crowned the men’s champions after edguing out Cooperrative Bank of Kenya 69-61 in a well contested game at the National Indoor Stadium.

Kenya's KPA lifted the 2011 Africa Zone Five basketball club championship title after edging out Berko Stars of Burundi in the final yesterday.The Kenyan girls, led by Joyce Makungu, beat their opponents 57-42 in an exciting final at the National Indoor Stadium.

KPA made it into yesterday's final after thumping hosts Jeshi Stars 69-51 and Berko Stars sailed through at the expense of Uganda KCC who they hit 65-61 in the semi finals on Friday.
Yesterday's final started at a cracking pace with both teams displaying swift and accurate passes to the delight of their respective fans, who were on their feet throughout the game.
After a tight battle in the opening exchanges of the first quarter, Berko Stars slightly lost steam towards the end of the quarter, enabling KPA to take a 10-9 lead.
The second quarter was even more exciting, with the two teams pressing up front in turn. It was difficult to predict then winner. The Kenyans took a 13-10 half time lead before winning the third quarter 23-19.
Joyce Makungu and Helena Oketha were instrumental to the KPA's laboured win. They scored 13 and 10 points respectively.Neerwa Ines was a notable player for Berko Stars. She netted 12 points.
In the third-place play off, Tanzania's Jeshi Stars went down 60-52 to Uganda KCC at the same venue.
In the men's third-place play off, KCB of Kenya beat Rwanda's APR 89-79

BURUNDI's Urunani Basketball Club won the FIBA Africa Zone Five Club Championship after beating defending champions, KCB of Kenya, 69-61 in the men's category final at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Urunani had previously edged the other tournament favourites, APR of Rwanda, in a tightly contested semi-final played at the same venue on Friday and the victory happened to offer them a huge morale boost going into the final.
KCB, who are arguably one of the best male basketball outfits in the East and Central African region, defeated Kigali's KBC in another men's semi-final also played on Friday, but their attempt to defend the title were frustrated by the Burundians.
The women's category final was expected to pit defending champions, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) against Burundi's Berco Stars at the same venue.
KPA beat Tanzania's only representatives, Jeshi Stars, 69-51 in the semi-final on Friday while the youthful Berco Stars, against all odds, breezed past Uganda's KCC in another semi-final to book their place in the final.
Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) organized the tournament, which brought together clubs from the East, Central and Horn of Africa, in an effort to promote the sport in the region.

KENYA Ports Authority whipped Jeshi Stars of Tanzania in their Fiba Africa Zone Five championships quarter-final in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to make it to the semi finals. The dockers, who had lost two matches in a row, recovered brilliantly to make the semis as the fourth women’s team.

In the men’s semis, reigning champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya topped pool “B” with a clean run and were to take on compatriots KCB Lions who finished second in pool “A”. The matches were set for yesterday. KPA went into this make or break tie, knowing it was win or nothing. They quickly grabbed the lead, taking a 16-3 first quarter edge and never looked back. In the second quarter, they trailed 9-10 in the second. Both teams tied 15-15 in the third before they victors sailed away 23-7 in the last.
KPA finished their matches in fourth place and were to take on Jeshi again in the semis due yesterday. Second placed Kampala City Council (KCC) faced Berco Stars of Burundi while Ethiopia’s side Government House were eliminated. The other men’s semis will see APR of Rwanda, who topped pool “A”, play Burundi’s Urunani who were second in pool “B”. The matches arer expected to be exlplosive. It was a blow for host Tanzania as all their three teams in the week long tournament were eliminated. KCB Lions thumped Vijana of Tanzania 83-43 in their last tie.
Lions roared to a 26-13 first quarter, hung up 12-15 in the second, continued the charge with a 16-6 run in the third and completed the rout with a strong 25-14 advantage in the last. In other matches, Ethiopia Sports lost 33-67 to Urunani and KBC of Rwanda hit Army Club of Tanzania 81-65 while APR shut out Savio of Tanzania 63-34. KCC went down to home girls Jeshi Stars 60-64 while Urunani managed to pip ABC 53-57.

Dar es Salaam. When Jeshi Stars marched on to three straight wins in the Zone V Basketball Championship, it gave Tanzanians hopes of celebrating the coveted trophy this year.But as it turned out, the hopes were false after the Tanzanian girls tumbled 69-51 at the hands of KPA of Kenya in the first semi-final at the National Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Zone 5 results

KCC 60-47 Ewesa (Ethiopia)

Today – semifinals
Berco (Burundi) v KCC (2pm)

Fuba League results (Wednesday)
M: Warriors 76-63 UCU Canons
W: Mak Sparks 42-79 Lady Canons

Today at YMCA
M: KIU v Nkumba (8.30pm)
W: Amazon v Gladiators (6.30pm)

By ISMAIL DHAKABA KIGONGO
KCC Leopards coach Timothy Odeke believes star guard Flavia Oketcho can play through the pain in her foot to spur the Ugandan side to the Zone 5 Club Championship finals in Dar-es-Salaam.
Oketcho suffered the injury in the 55-53 victory over Kenya Ports of Authority (KPA) on Tuesday but has continued to play through the barrier. She scored a team-high 13 points, a tally matched by Martha Soigi, to defeat Ethiopian side Ewesa 60-47 yesterday. KCC finished second in the preliminaries behind hosts Jeshi Stars. “One of the KPA players stepped on her foot. It’s aching but we can work around it. The final is a bare minimum,” Odeke said. Centre Carol Badaru also suffered bruises due to the heat.

KCC clinched a semifinal date with Burundi’s Berco Stars this afternoon by cruising through the final period 22-4 after the team from the from the Horn of Africa had made it close.
The two-time Ugandan league champions edged the first period 12-11, took charge of the second 14-8 and lost the third 12-14. Miriam Hamala added 12 and Joyce Zalwango scored 10. Odeke must now contend with Florence Kalume who missed KCC’s 56-40 preliminary stage victory over her team Berco. “She does so much and they look to her to play 40 minutes so our strategy will be different.”
Kalume, a former Crane High School star in the local league, tormented Team Uganda at the Zone 5 Nations Championships in Kigali, Rwanda earlier this year. Meanwhile, Kyambogo Warriors returned to the top of the MTN-Fuba League after beating UCU Canons 76-63 on Wednesday night at YMCA court.
Ivan Enabu scored 25 points and seven rebounds in the game which started late due to power outages. Warriors rose to 13-1 for a total of 27 points, one ahead of champions DMark Power. UCU Lady Canons pummeled Makerere Sparks 79-42 to go into within one point of KCC Leopards (32) in the women’s standings. Purity Odhiambo led all scorers with 19 points.

Dar es Salaam. Jeshi Stars are simply unstoppable. They marched on to the third win in a row in the ongoing Zone V Basketball Championship at the National Indoor Stadium yesterday.The army team, gunning to restore its pride in the regional championship, edged out KCC Leopards of Uganda 64-60 in a closely fought encounter.Jeshi Stars began their title campaign with a resounding 71-49 win over Government House Agency of Ethiopia before labouring past Burundi’s Berko 59-53 on Monday.

Nipael Kessy displayed her scoring ability to finish with 17 points, Lucy Augustino had 16 points as hard-fighting centre notched 12 for the victors.Flaviana Okech of KCC Leopards finished as the team’s highest scorer with 19 points while her teammate Marth Joibi scored seven points.
It was hardly a plain sailing for the winners, who were forced to deploy all experience at their disposal to silence the Ugandans.Jeshi Stars relying on their attacking firepower of Malaki, Penina Igwe, Kessy and Lucy made a bright start to the game and managed to take a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
With the home crowd strongly backing Jeshi Stars, they became the better side in the second quarter and made the most of their offensive game to widen their lead to 30-21.
Hoping that the Ugandans were already outdone, KCC Leopards managed to turn the tables in the third quarter, scoring 23-15, leaving the home fans worried about Jeshi Stars’ chances of posting the third straight win.
Though looking tired, Jeshi Stars returned into the decisive quarter with a clear intention of extending their winning run with the likes of Igwe, Malaki and Kessy troubling the Ugandans constantly.

Zone 5 Club Championship


Day 1

Men

The three Kenyan teams taking part in this year’s zone V Basketball championship in Dareesalam got off to a positive start in the championship after registering heavy wins against their opponents.

2010 KBF men champions Coop bank is in pool B alongside Urunani from Burundi, Ethiopia Water Sports, Rwanda’s KBC and ABC from Tanzania. Coop Bank won all their opening matches with a convincing margin crashing Urunani 56-49 on Sunday and Ethiopia Water Sports 83-43 on Monday.
KCB is in Pool A alongside hosts Savio and Vijana from Tanzania and APR of Rwanda. In their opening match played on Monday, KCB registered a 49-34 win over Savio.
2010 KBF ladies champions KPA, are the lone women representative for Kenya after the Zone V defending champions Eagle Wigs pulled out due to financial constraints. In their opening match played on Monday, KPA was in a class of its own when they walloped Government house agencies from Ethiopia 73-32.
KPA will fight for the top honors alongside four other women teams that include: Jeshi Stars of Tanzania, KCC from Uganda, Berco Stars from Burundi and Government House Agencies from Ethiopia.

THE Tanzania men's sides continued to enjoy poor run of form at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone Five Basketball Club Championship when Savio and Vijana lost their games on Tuesday.

Unlike their female counterparts, Jeshi Stars, who have maintained their impressive run in the Championship, the going has proved tough for the local men teams.
Tanzania's Savio succumbed to a 34-49 defeat at the hands of Rwanda's KCB in a hotly contested encounter at the Don Bosco courts in the city on Tuesday.
Likewise, one of the local top sides Vijana could not demonstrate their prowess against Rwanda's APR and allowed their opponents dictate the terms and eventually went down to soul searching 83-53 defeat.
Vijana had looked sharp in the first quarter but got lost as the game progressed into the second, third and final quarters and were easily ran ragged by the Rwandese outfit.
Vijana, who have been taking part in various continental meets, played as a mere underdogs on Tuesday and could not display their usual skills, giving APR chance of pinning them at their own domain.
So far, Jeshi Stars stands a better chance of making it to the finals having won two games, the opening match against Ethiopia's Government House Agency and Burundi's Berco Stars.
The Dar es Salaam ladies whipped Government House Agency 71-49 in the opening match of the women's category on Sunday before edging out Burundi's Berco Stars 59-53 in an entertaining encounter the following day.
However, Jeshi Stars have a tough assignment today when they play one of the tournament favourites, Kampala City Council (KCC), in a game billed to be a sew-saw affair going by the standards of both side.
Should Jeshi Star win today's encounter, they will have an assignment against Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to determine where they finish after the preliminary stage.
In other game on Wednesday Berco will face KPA as Jeshi take on KCC in the women's category matches at the National Indoor Stadium, while in the men's category Tanzania's ABC will be trying to settle scores when they meet Rwanda's Urunani as KBC face Coops bank at the same venue.
Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) has organized the tournament that has brought together top clubs from the East, Central and Horn of Africa countries.
The tournament has been sponsored by Sprite.