Equity Dumas have levelled their best-of-five National Men’s Basketball Premier League final series 1-1 with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) after edging them out by half a basket in a 70-69 Game Two victory at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium on Saturday night.
The highly charged match saw two expulsions and emotions running high on both benches, as the final now heads to Mombasa next weekend for the remaining three games.
KPA’s Victor Odendo and Equity’s Shem Omuta were ejected with 3:32 to play in the first quarter for a brawl that almost degenerated into a full-fist fight.
More drama was to follow in the third quarter as Equity were awarded a technical foul after KPA’s assistant coach Anthony Ojukwu deliberately poured water on the court to halt the game.
On more than one occasion, Equity coach Carrey ‘T9’ Odhiambo had to be restrained by his fellow coaches while furiously protesting.
Equity rallied from 45-36 at halftime to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, to ensure they hit the road to Mombasa with the tie level.
Equity had four players with double figures, Victor Bosire having a game high 16, Faheem Juma with 15 while James Mwangi and Titus Musembi both had 11.
KPA’s best scorer was Job Byron who sunk in 15 points.
The dockers had started well going on a 6-0 scoring run, but Equity rallied and took the lead until the brawl that resulted in two ejections with 3:32 to play.
After that, the visitors rallied back and led 20-11 by the break.
KPA continued dominating the game as they were cleaner on either board while Equity’s scoring was a bit erratic, Mwangi and Faheem, usually clean on their shots, struggling in the first two quarters of the game.
KPA who had won game one 62-53 on Friday night looked comfortable and all set for another win, as they had a nine-point lead at halftime, scores reading 45-36.
In the third quarter though, Equity rallied and with 4:15 to play, Faheem, who had now risen his game reduced the scored to a three-point contest after a foul and a basket. With 2:29 to play, they went into the lead courtesy of a bonus point foul, which Mwangi converted both as they led 52-51.
However, the dockers managed to retake the lead, going 54-53 up at the end of the third quarter.
In the third quarter, powered on by a noisy Nyayo Gymnasium, Equity continued their fightback and just under two and a half minutes played, Mwangi sunk in from beyond the arch to take Equity ahead.
With seven minutes to play, Equity were given a technical foul after coach Ojukwu’s water-pouring antics to help his side breathe from Equity’s pressure.
Euquity continued to dominate and they were emphatic, taking a 10-point lead with 4:14 to play when Victor ‘Electric’ Ochieng went on a powered lay-up to take the scores to 68-58.
KPA however rallied back and came to within five points with 2:02 to play. With 1 seconds to play and Equity having a four-point lead, Eugene Adera was fouled, but he only converted one of his two from the free-throw line.
The dockers called a time out with five seconds to play after they went three points close. Upon return, with possession in their hands, Equity were safe and they only needed to ensure they delay KPA for the remaining five seconds.
The dockers however managed to sneak in a basket with martin Anthony sneaking under the rim. But with possession in their hands and a single-point lead, Equity were safe.
