Basketball in Africa

by Philip Onyango
Nairobi

The Kenya Basketball Federation calendar of events concludes this weekend when teams from across the country converge on the KPA Hall Makande for the Jamhuri Day Cup.

The annual tournament will see top basketball teams renew their rivalry after the conclusion of the basketball league season which saw KCB men and KPA women teams win the national classic basketball league titles, while KPA men won the division one title.

The KBF national vice-chairman, Henry Shihemi on Friday confirmed that at least 20 teams would be in Mombasa for the event.

Among the teams which had confirmed are Sprite Storms who will be renewing their rivalry with KPA whom they beat in the both legs of the national classic league title.
Others are Barclays Bank, Kenya Airport Authority, KPA men, and Cooperative bank of Kenya, Mombasa High School and Mombasa Sports Club.
Other teams include Changamwe Rollers, Makupa Lakers, Buxton Hawks and Makande rebels.

Achien'g top in US

Shihemi has in the meantime appealed to teams to report early enough for the draws and allocation of courts.

Meanwhile, Shihemi has praised national team forward Josephine Achieng for her achievement in the National Association Inter-collegiate games (NAIA) in America where she is currently top in the field goal percentage.

Shihemi, Achien'gs performance was a clear indication that the basketball standards were high in Kenya despite the note so good performance at international level.
Owino who plays and studies at union University in Tennessee has .703 field goal percentages in the current season and is currently ranked first in America college games.

The 6,4ft tall former Mombasa High School centre is also second in blocks percentage at 2.9, sixth in points per game at 21.5 and is ranked 14 in total rebounds per game at 8.9.

Her college team, Union University Lady Bulldogs started the season on a clean sheet winning all the 13 NAIA league matches played so far according NAIA statistics released early this week.