05 December 2010
KENYA : KPA floor Strathmore, enter basketball final
By CAXTON APOLLO aayienga@yahoo.co.uk
Kenya Ports Authority yesterday became the first women’s basketball team to qualify for the 2010 play-offs final following their 40-36 victory over Strathmore University in the semi-final Game Two tie at the Nyayo National Stadium.
As a result, KPA sailed through to the final on a 2-0 basis after having rocked the students 79-36 in the opening Game One at their KPA Makande gymnasium in Mombasa last weekend.
They are again expected to face champions Eagle Wings in the final, who are a game up after humiliating weak Yana 69-24 on Saturday.
Ulinzi Warriors, who had won the men’s championship a record of five-times in a row, also qualified for the lower competition final after dispatching home Nakuru Club 2-0.
Narrow victory
Mennonites refused to go down, forcing a decisive Game Three against Trail Blazers whom they beat 70-63 while champions Eagle Wings made a good start demolishing Yana 69-24 in their semi-final Game One.
On Saturday, KPA who had won the opener with a huge 79-36 margin in Mombasa last weekend, found the going tough registering a narrow 40-36 win in Game Two.
Strathmore, who had down their homework well, gave KPA a run for the money tying the scores 16-16 at half-time.
Veteran Miriam Awuor, who was later injured in the last quarter, had teamed up well with Joyce Makungu and Carol Mureji to earn the visiting dock women a 14-8 first quarter lead.
Strathmore, who needed to win to force the decisive Game Three on Sunday, had their secret weapon Grace Wanjiku and Faith Owich breathing fire in the second quarter.
Three-pointers
The duo were responsible for the students superb 8-2 run in the second quarter which left KPA a worried side.
On resumption, coach Anthony Ojukwu had his fingers crossed as Hellen Oketch and Hilda Luvandwa gave the dockwomen hope.
They hit hard the students 5-1 for a lead 12-17. Strathmore coach Sylvia Njeri called for a quick time out which yielded fruit as the students raced a 5-0 run to celebrate the deserved 23-22 lead.
It later became a tough battle as both teams worked extra hard locking the scores 24-24 and 26-26 as fans cheered up. Brilliant guard Wanjiku threatened with accurate three-point shooting which again shot the students up 35-33 in the last quarter.
Kenya Ports Authority yesterday became the first women’s basketball team to qualify for the 2010 play-offs final following their 40-36 victory over Strathmore University in the semi-final Game Two tie at the Nyayo National Stadium.
As a result, KPA sailed through to the final on a 2-0 basis after having rocked the students 79-36 in the opening Game One at their KPA Makande gymnasium in Mombasa last weekend.
They are again expected to face champions Eagle Wings in the final, who are a game up after humiliating weak Yana 69-24 on Saturday.
Ulinzi Warriors, who had won the men’s championship a record of five-times in a row, also qualified for the lower competition final after dispatching home Nakuru Club 2-0.
Narrow victory
Mennonites refused to go down, forcing a decisive Game Three against Trail Blazers whom they beat 70-63 while champions Eagle Wings made a good start demolishing Yana 69-24 in their semi-final Game One.
On Saturday, KPA who had won the opener with a huge 79-36 margin in Mombasa last weekend, found the going tough registering a narrow 40-36 win in Game Two.
Strathmore, who had down their homework well, gave KPA a run for the money tying the scores 16-16 at half-time.
Veteran Miriam Awuor, who was later injured in the last quarter, had teamed up well with Joyce Makungu and Carol Mureji to earn the visiting dock women a 14-8 first quarter lead.
Strathmore, who needed to win to force the decisive Game Three on Sunday, had their secret weapon Grace Wanjiku and Faith Owich breathing fire in the second quarter.
Three-pointers
The duo were responsible for the students superb 8-2 run in the second quarter which left KPA a worried side.
On resumption, coach Anthony Ojukwu had his fingers crossed as Hellen Oketch and Hilda Luvandwa gave the dockwomen hope.
They hit hard the students 5-1 for a lead 12-17. Strathmore coach Sylvia Njeri called for a quick time out which yielded fruit as the students raced a 5-0 run to celebrate the deserved 23-22 lead.
It later became a tough battle as both teams worked extra hard locking the scores 24-24 and 26-26 as fans cheered up. Brilliant guard Wanjiku threatened with accurate three-point shooting which again shot the students up 35-33 in the last quarter.
# posted by afrbk : 16:13
