Basketball in Africa

The United States International University-USIU Basketball Teams reclaimed the Universities and Colleges Basketball League-UCBL titles after winning their respective finals on Easter Sunday. The finals were played at Strathmore University Basketball Court .

USIU Flames 62 vs. JKUAT Lynx 38

USIU Flames played solid defence from the tip-off to the buzzer to edge-out defending champions Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology-JKUAT Lynx 62-38. The game started on a low note with JKUAT taking a narrow 6-5 lead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter, as Flames Coach Harrison Omondi took a timeout. On resumption, USIU came all fired up led by Evelyn Sande who sunk two 3-pointers and Brenda Odula adding another, before Samba Mjomba got a steal and basket to put the scores at 22-10 at the end of the quarter. Flames continued their defensive play denying JKUAT, while maintaining their offense through Sarah Chan and Angela Okoth. JKUAT trio of Irene Makori, Emma Nyakweba and Dora Achieng worked tirelessly to keep their team afloat as USIU took the half 37-21. High on confidence, USIU Flames came out stronger in the third and fourth quarter as Sande, Okoth, Odula, Chan and Mjomba continued with their superb plays at both ends of the court, while Nyakweba and Maureen Andawa struggled for JKUAT. Sande sealed the sweet victory for USIU with a 3-pointer with seconds left to put the scores at 62-38. Sarah Chan bagged 17 points for USIU Flames and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) as team-mates Angela Okoth added 15 points and Evelyn Sande 14 and was named the 3-point shooting Champion. Dora Achieng replied for JKUAT with 10 points with Maureen Andawa and Emma Nyakweba each bagging 7 points for JKUAT.

Quarters Breakdown; 22 -10: 15 -11: 11 -07: 14 -10: 62 -38

USIU Tigers 53 vs. KCITI Wildcats 45

USIU Tigers come from down to hit Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute-KCITI Wildcats 53-45 in an entertaining UCBL Finals tie, that lived up to its expectation of being explosive. The game tipped off on a high note as both teams traded quick baskets to tie at 2-2, 5-5 after 3-poiters by Dan Okwiri (Tigers) and Martin Okwako (Wildcats). Tigers then went up 13-10 after a Djibril Ouedraogo basket and a Yoni Wanambiro dunk with a minute to go. However, their lead was short-lived as KCITI replied through Lawrence Ndegwa to take over the game at 14-13 as the first quarter ended. The second quarter saw KCITI come out stronger on defence, and capitalised on Tigers turn-overs to take a 28-23 lead at the break after good plays from Okwako, Ndegwa and Joshua Vuva. The third quarter saw USIU Tigers change their defence to 1-3-1, and went on the offensive attack through Okwiri, Wanambiro and Djibril to close in at 29-30 with 5:34 to go, prompting KCITI to take a time out. On resumption, both teams put up their best performance, bagging baskets at both ends with Tigers guard Victor Odendo tying the game at 35-35 with 2:45 to go, before Djibril gave Tigers a 37-35 lead 20 seconds later. KCITI's Collis Ouko tied the game at 39-39 with 15 second to go, but Tigers replied at the other end through Djibril to take a 41-39 lead at the end of the third quarter. Tigers came for serious business in the fourth quarter, with Okwiri sinking a huge 3-poiter a minute inside play for a 44-39 advantage, as Wanambiro combined with Lionel Manyara and Papillion Odhiambo to extend the lead to 50-43 with 2:03 to go, as they played solid defence to limit Wildcats scoring to only five points in the final quarter. Okwiri shot 14 points, Wanambiro 13 and Papillion Odhiambo and Djibril Ouedraogo each added 8 points for Tigers, while Collins Ouko replied for KCITI with 13 points, Martin Okwako 12, and Lawrence Ndegwa 11. Okwako was later named the Most Valuable Player-MVP.
Quarters Breakdown; 13-14: 10-14: 18-11: 12-05: 53-45

Defending champions, Kenyatta University Pirates did not take part in this year's UCBL League.

2007 UCBL Awards

Ladies:
Most Valuable Player-MVP: Sarah Chan USIU Flames
Most Improved Player-MIP: Maureen Andawa JKUAT Lynx
Most Dependable Player-MDP: Brenda Angeshi KCITI Ladycats
3-point shooting champion: Evelyn Sande USIU Flames

Men:
Most Valuable Player-MVP: Martin Okwako KCITI Wildcats
Most Improved Player-MIP: Ken Maru Strathmore University Blades
Most Dependable Player-MDP: Micah Opinya JKUAT Straycats

Coach of the Year: Harrison Omondi USIU Flames

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Info and Photos: alsaBasketball.com