Basketball in Africa

Equity Bank’s resilience crumbled in the final moments as they lost 73-80 to defending champions Ulinzi Warriors in a Kenya Basketball Federation men's premier league game played on Friday night.
The bankers kept pace with the champions by playing from the three-point line scoring 21 points against 12. On the other end, Ulinzi capitalized on shooting fouls to answer back the bankers scoring 18 free shots against 10. First quarter was competitive and high scoring closing with a 25-25 tie.
Equity took a 3-0 lead but scores tied 5-5 after Richard Osano fired a three-pointer for Ulinzi. Osano, who is making a comeback to Ulinzi after recovering from a back injury, scored a second three-pointer to give Ulinzi a 8-5 lead.
He scored all the opening points for Ulinzi. It was level again 8-8 with Ian Wachiye making a three-pointer for Equity but a three-point play from William Ochieng gave Ulinzi a 11-8 lead. They went on to dominate until 1:10 on the clock when Ken Wena made a basket for Equity to tie 22-22.
Ulinzi then earned a shooting foul but Ochieng made one free shot to make it 23-22. Fred Lugasi sunk a three-pointer for 25-23 to Equity but Ochieng leveled with a basket as the quarter closed. Victor Odendo’s three-point play gave Ulinzi a 28-25 lead when second quarter began.
The soldiers went on to open a 12-point lead at 45-33 and won the quarter 22-12 to lead 47-37 at halftime. With good rebounding from Frank Manyala, Equity came out strongly in third quarter to win 18-13 and trail by five points going to fourth quarter at 55-60.
Bankers cut the deficit
At one point, Ulinzi led by 15 points at 52-37 but a three-point shot each from Wachie, Lugasi and Enock Ogecha helped the bankers cut the deficit by 10 points. With 2:11 to play in fourth quarter, Ulinzi was leading 72-71 but simple errors saw Equity fall back quickly to lose by seven points.
Ulinzi won the quarter 20-18. Ochieng top scored for Ulinzi with 22 points while Eric Mutoro added 18. Lugasi scored 15 for Equity and Brian Obimbo added 14.
Trailblazers remain winless after going down 63-75 to Nairobi City Thunder. They left it late to make a comeback with a 22-12 win in fourth quarter after Thunder had done all the damage with scores of 23-12, 16-14 and 24-15 in the first three quarters respectively.
Griffin Ligare scored 22 points for Thunder and Kevin Chogo added 16 with Charles Kituyi scoring 12. David Otieno top scored for Trailblazers with 19 points.
Action continues over the weekend as Nakuru Club travels to Nairobi to play Lions and Thunder. There will be a “siblings derby” when Strathmore University play Blades on Sunday while Strathmore will have a second fixture against Trailblazers.
In women's Premier League, Masaku Sparks plays Eagle Wings as Co-operative Bank comes up against Storms and Western Delight hosts Strathmore University.
Fixtures
Sunday: Western Delight vs Strathmore University (10 a.m., KPC), Zetech University vs Gladiators (9 a.m., Nyayo gymnasium), 4-Christ vs KAA (10:30), Co-op Bank vs Storms (12 p.m.), Strathmore vs Blades (2 p.m.), Thunder vs Nakuru Club (4 p.m.)