Equity Bank Hawks let go of KBF league gong

Equity Bank Hawks yesterday relinquished their Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s Premier League crown after falling to rivals Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 1-3 in the best of five-series at Makande Hall, Mombasa.

Bundling the bankers out of the title race was sweet revenge for the dockers who had lost their title to them last season. However, their victory did not come easy for they had to fight from behind having lost game one to Hawks. Determined to play in the final, KPA played their hearts out to win three games in a row for a 3-1 lead and a ticket to the final where they will clash with Zetech University Sparks.

The gritty dockers shook off a slow start that saw them trail 9-18 at the end of the first quarter to dominate the game and register a 71-48 victory.

After a promising first quarter, the bankers fizzled out in the second allowing KPA to recover and control the game.

The dockers, who are looking to recapture the title they lost last year, took the second quarter 20-13 reducing the point gap to three points.

With much of the recovery work done in the second period, there was no looking back for KPA as they dominated to win the third and fourth quarters 25-13 and 17-4.

Yvonne Atieno led KPA with 19 points, while Aminata Samasekou and Alima Doumbia scored 12 each. Melissa Akinyi starred for Equity with 16 points.

Sparks had on Saturday dismissed Strathmore University Swords 67-53 to book their final slot with a 3-0 win.

Sparks, who have had their best season ever, will be looking to overcome the Dockers and become the second varsity side to bag the coveted trophy. United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Flames are the only side to have achieved that feat.

In the men’s title hunt, champions Nairobi City Thunder secured a 3-0 win against Umoja Basketball Club to remain on course to defending their trophy.

They maintained their flawless run now in its second season with a 79-66 game three victory.

Kenya Morans star Victor Bosire sunk a match high 25 points but his effort was not good enough to salvage Umoja’s campaign as Thunder struck in enviable fashion.

Marol Achei also had a good day in office scoring 18 points despite Umoja’s defeat. Garang Diing top scored for Thunder with 23 whereas Faheem Juma and Derrick Ogechi added 17 and 15 points respectively.

Thunder will now face either KPA or Ulinzi Warriors in the best-of-five final battle.