Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women’s basketball team successfully defended the Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League title in style without losing any game in both regular and play-offs finals.
KPA defeated Zetech Sparks 68-43 in Game Three to take the best-of-five series final 3-0 at their Makande Gymnasium backyard in Mombasa on Saturday to clinch their 14th league title.
KPA led by their experienced point guard Natalie Akinyi dominated the students in the second, third and fourth quarters despite losing 08-16 in the first quarter.
Nigerian import Ifunaya Okoro who was named the Most Valuable Player was impressive especially in the fourth quarter combining well with Hilda Indasi, Belinda Aluoch and Linda Alando.
In the second quarter, the dock women led 11-06 despite impressive display of skill by Zetech’s Medina Okot, Ashely Minayo and Christine Akinyi.
The third quarter saw KPA start by sinking two baskets with a three-pointer by Okoro in the first 50 seconds of the game forcing Zetech Sparks technical bench to call for a time-out.
Indasi was impressive on the offensive as she sunk baskets seemingly at will with the team capitalising on offensive rebounds to win 19-09.
In the fourth quarter, KPA overwhelmed the students in all the departments to win convincingly 30-12.
KPA, who have been in top form throughout the season made their intention to defend the title at their backyard known early in the third quarter as they went all-out on offence.
The dockers had defeated Zetech Sparks 68-38 and 70-38 in Game One and Two respectively in Nairobi last weekend.
Coach Anthony Ojukwu-led KPA was the strongest side in the league this season as it dominated all the teams home and away to ensure they completed the league unbeaten.
KPA played more aggressively on the offensive this season and the signing of Okoro midway through the season made their attack more lethal.
KPA men on the brink
Meanwhile, KPA men’s basketball team are just a win away from retaining their title after they beat Equity Dumas 68-44 in Game Three of the best-of-five series final at Makande on Saturday.
The dockers, who now lead the series 2-1, need to win Sunday’s Game Four to be declared champions and avoid Game Five on Monday.
In the tension-packed Game Three, the combination of Eugene Adera, Lennox Wanje and Job Byron around the three-point arc in the offensive proved vital as they managed to squeeze past Equity Dumas’ defence to win the first quarter 22-07.
Despite winning 10-11 in the second quarter, KPA’s defence lost concentration in the first five minutes of the quarter conceding turnovers and giving Equity Duma’s veteran guard Victor Bosire and James Mwangi leeway to sink in baskets.
Equity Dumas started the third quarter on a high note with Bosire sinking in a three-pointer while capitalising on defensive rebounds and coordinating well in the offensive with small forward Faheem Juma and Bobby Onyango.
However, KPA through Wanje’s and Byron attacks in the offence, ensured they won the quarter 16-12 to the delight of home fans.
In the fourth quarter, Benjamin Muga and Tobias Odhiambo were impressive for KPA along the baseline area outscoring Equity Dumas to win 19-15.
KPA’s coach Sammy Kiki said his players rectified the mistakes they committed in Game Two in Nairobi and denied their opponents scoring opportunities.
“Our game plan as a team on Sunday is to win, we want to avoid game five. We will go very strong against them, we do not want to take any chances,” said Kiki.
