Basketball in Africa

Fiba Zone five(V) ladies champions Eagle Wings of Kenya will not defend the title at this year’s championship to be staged in Mombasa from August 25-31 and hosted by the Coast Basketball Association.
The former local league champions had hoped to get a green card by the virtue of being Africa bronze medalist and the zone’s defending champions. There is no such provision in Fiba rules for such a privilege which technically knocks them out.
Four Kenyan clubs have been confirmed for the championship- the women's league champions Kenya Ports Authority and United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) while Co-operative Bank and KPA have been confirmed in the men’s category.
KPA and USIU-A finished second to Eagle Wings in the last two editions, KPA losing 54-74 in 2012 and USIU-A 62-67 in 2013.
So far, fifteen clubs have confirmed participation in both categories.
Burundi has three in Urunani, Bercostars and Newstars while Rwanda has Espoir and APR. Uganda will be represented by City Oilers, KCCA, Tiger Head Power and UCU while Don Bosco has been confirmed from Tanzania.
Etho Water is the only team confirmed from Ethiopia while no team has been confirmed from South Sudan and Zanzibar.
Former men premier league champions Ulinzi Warriors will also be away as they take part in the annual East African Military Games in Zanzibar.
The soldiers who are the defending champions will leave the country on Monday night without seven key players. Ancette Wafula, Tiberius Menya, Geoffrey Mwaniki, Anthony Bwire and Eric Mutoro are all civilians thus ineligible to participate while Dieter Okoth and Paul Olanya are on military mission.
The 12-man travelling team will be led by head coach William Balozi and includes captain William Ochieng, Mike Tanui, Victor Odendo, Byron Mabonga and Joseph Goshi.
Co-op beat Mennonite
Only Co-op Bank out of the teams to take part in regional tourneys was involved in league action over the weekend.
The bankers beat Mennonite 61-39 on Sunday with 11 points from Mark Mayien as Felix Odhiambo scored 10 for Mennonite. Mennonite lost the second match of the weekend 51-62 to Terror.
Blazers’ wait to strike the first league win continued after losing two straight matches. On Sunday, they lost 46-80 to Equity Bank.
The bankers led 41-19 at halftime winning the first two quarters 25-11 and 16-8.
Their dominance extended to the second half with 20-11 and 19-16 wins in the closing quarters. Fred Lugasi top scored for Equity with 15 points while Jay Michoma had 8 for Blazers.
On Saturday, Blazers was beaten 77-41 by university side Blades.
The students were on the losing end come Sunday falling 56-52 to Thunder while Strathmore University beat Nakuru Club 69-43.
Wings fly over KCA and Co-op 
In women premier, Eagle Wings registered two wins beating Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U) 96-28 and Co-op Bank 46-44.
Strathmore University completed a weekend double beating Sprite Storms 43-33 and Safe Spaces 69-57. Storms beat Mennonite 69-15 in their second game.
KBF Weekend Results: Saturday- KCA-U 56 Dankind 45, Parklands Baptist 72 World Hope 87, Mennonite 15 Sprite Storms 69, Trailblazers 58 JKUAT 43, Eagle Wings 96 KCA-U 28, Little Prince 47 Zetech College 64, Safe Spaces 57 Strathmore University 69, Blades 77 Blazers 41, Mennonite 51 Terror 62; Sunday- JKUAT 25 Dankind 53, KCA-U 59 Parklands Baptist 25, Trailblazers 40 Umoja 54, Sprite Storms 33 Strathmore University 43, Safe Spaces 38 KCA-U 30, Lions 65 Terror 57, Co-op Bank 61 Mennonite 39 (men), Strathmore University 69 Nakuru Club 43, Eagle Wings 46 Co-op Bank 44, Blazers 46 Equity Bank 80, Blades 52 Thunder 56. Ulinzi Squad to EAC Military Games: Bernard Mufutu, Mike Tanui,William Ochieng, Victor Odendo, Victor Simba, Joseph Goshi, Joseph Owino, John Messa, Vincent Ambani, Byron Mabonga, Martin Okinda, Edward Kalume.