17 March 2014
KENYA : Co-op Bank, Strathmore triumph at pre-season tourney
Co-operative Bank and Strathmore University won the men and women titles respectively at the Kenya Basketball Federation pre-season tournament held at the Railways Club.
The two days event attracted top premiership sides ahead of the 2014 season that kicks off on March 29. Co-op Bank beat Strathmore University 34-32 while Strathmore ladies beat Co-op Bank ladies 23-16 in overtime.
Tony Abondo came to the rescue of the bankers with a decider basket as only two seconds of play remained. Both teams had tied at 32-32 and overtime play seemed imminent.
It was clever strategy from head coach Carey Odhiambo that conquered, calling for a timeout when it was necessary.
Picking up from the gained possession, point guard Joseph Khaemba laid a precise pass to Abondo who killed off the game with a straight shot.
The students led for most of the second half only to succumb to a late comeback from the bankers. Co-op won the first quarter 8-3 and Strathmore the second 10-6 as the former enjoyed a one point advantage at the breather.
The students dominated third quarter winning 10-5 before the bankers carried home the fourth 15-9. James Mwangi top scored for Co-op with 11 points and Allan Ouma added 9. Valentine Nyakinda had 9 points for Strathmore.
In the semifinals, Co-op beat Equity Bank 46-27 after leading 19-10 at halftime.
Frank Ogolla led the scores with 8 points for the bankers. Strathmore saw off Nairobi Aviation College 30-13, building up on a 15-5 halftime lead. Nyakinda scored 11 points for the students.
Strathmore win women's title
In the women category, the final game had to be played in overtime after ending up 14-14 in regulation time. In a low scoring encounter, Co-op won the first and second quarters 4-0 and 5-2 respectively for a 9-2 halftime advantage.
A resurgence in the second half saw the Sylvia Kamau side level scores with 7-5 and 5-0 wins in the third and fourth quarters.
Strathmore sealed the win with a 9-2 win in extra time. Enroute to the final, Strathmore beat Equity Bank ladies team 36-27 after trailing 20-22 at the breather.
Melisa Akinyi scored 13 points to help her side book the finals slot. Co-op Bank edged out Sprite Storms 22-21 in the second semi final encounter.
Full Results: Men- Strathmore 49 Aviation 45, World Hope 26 Malaika 49, Strathmore 27 Little Prince 29, Malaika 25 Equity Bank 31, World Hope 13 Equity Bank 34, Zetech College 35 World Hope 38, Equity Bank 10 Strathmore 21, World Hope 25 Strathmore 26, Titans 21 Malaika 24, Co-op 32 Little Prince 12, Strathmore 31 Co-op Bank 48, Zetech College 33 Little Prince 41, Aviation 26 Co-op Bank 32, Strathmore 34 Zetech College 30, Aviation 24 Little Prince 16; Semifinals- Strathmore 30 Aviation 13,Co-op Bank 46 Equity Bank 27; Final- Co-op Bank 34 Strathmore 32; Women- Strathmore I 26 Storms 18, Strathmore II 7 Equity Bank 27, Co-op Bank 34 Strathmore II 13, Equity Bank 24 Co-op Bank 29; Semifinals- Strathmore 36 Equity ank 29, Co-op bank 22 Storms 21; Final- Strathmore 23 Co-op Bank 16.
The two days event attracted top premiership sides ahead of the 2014 season that kicks off on March 29. Co-op Bank beat Strathmore University 34-32 while Strathmore ladies beat Co-op Bank ladies 23-16 in overtime.
Tony Abondo came to the rescue of the bankers with a decider basket as only two seconds of play remained. Both teams had tied at 32-32 and overtime play seemed imminent.
It was clever strategy from head coach Carey Odhiambo that conquered, calling for a timeout when it was necessary.
Picking up from the gained possession, point guard Joseph Khaemba laid a precise pass to Abondo who killed off the game with a straight shot.
The students led for most of the second half only to succumb to a late comeback from the bankers. Co-op won the first quarter 8-3 and Strathmore the second 10-6 as the former enjoyed a one point advantage at the breather.
The students dominated third quarter winning 10-5 before the bankers carried home the fourth 15-9. James Mwangi top scored for Co-op with 11 points and Allan Ouma added 9. Valentine Nyakinda had 9 points for Strathmore.
In the semifinals, Co-op beat Equity Bank 46-27 after leading 19-10 at halftime.
Frank Ogolla led the scores with 8 points for the bankers. Strathmore saw off Nairobi Aviation College 30-13, building up on a 15-5 halftime lead. Nyakinda scored 11 points for the students.
Strathmore win women's title
In the women category, the final game had to be played in overtime after ending up 14-14 in regulation time. In a low scoring encounter, Co-op won the first and second quarters 4-0 and 5-2 respectively for a 9-2 halftime advantage.
A resurgence in the second half saw the Sylvia Kamau side level scores with 7-5 and 5-0 wins in the third and fourth quarters.
Strathmore sealed the win with a 9-2 win in extra time. Enroute to the final, Strathmore beat Equity Bank ladies team 36-27 after trailing 20-22 at the breather.
Melisa Akinyi scored 13 points to help her side book the finals slot. Co-op Bank edged out Sprite Storms 22-21 in the second semi final encounter.
Full Results: Men- Strathmore 49 Aviation 45, World Hope 26 Malaika 49, Strathmore 27 Little Prince 29, Malaika 25 Equity Bank 31, World Hope 13 Equity Bank 34, Zetech College 35 World Hope 38, Equity Bank 10 Strathmore 21, World Hope 25 Strathmore 26, Titans 21 Malaika 24, Co-op 32 Little Prince 12, Strathmore 31 Co-op Bank 48, Zetech College 33 Little Prince 41, Aviation 26 Co-op Bank 32, Strathmore 34 Zetech College 30, Aviation 24 Little Prince 16; Semifinals- Strathmore 30 Aviation 13,Co-op Bank 46 Equity Bank 27; Final- Co-op Bank 34 Strathmore 32; Women- Strathmore I 26 Storms 18, Strathmore II 7 Equity Bank 27, Co-op Bank 34 Strathmore II 13, Equity Bank 24 Co-op Bank 29; Semifinals- Strathmore 36 Equity ank 29, Co-op bank 22 Storms 21; Final- Strathmore 23 Co-op Bank 16.
# posted by afrbk : 14:38
