Equity Bank teams cruise to victory in basketball leagues
Strathmore University's Melvin Iminza (left) shields Kenyatta University's Rose Mshilla during their Kenya Basketball Federation women's Premier League match on June 4, 2017 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Women’s premier league defending champions Equity had Linda Alando scoring a game-high 16 points.
- Susan Akinyi added 10 as they ended their first leg fixtures with a 65-32 win over former champions USIU-A Flames.
- The bankers had a 20-4 run and led 40-14 at half-time.
Equity Bank men and women’s teams on Saturday registered convincing victories in their first leg matches of Kenya Basketball Federation leagues at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.
Women’s premier league defending champions Equity had Linda Alando scoring a game-high 16 points, and Susan Akinyi adding 10 as they ended their first leg fixtures with a 65-32 win over former champions USIU-A Flames. The bankers had a 20-4 run and led 40-14 at half-time.
Coach George Mayienga, who is building a USIU-A team for the future, saw his team squeeze a narrow 9-6 third quarter run but Equity responded with a 19-10 advantage in the last quarter to be assured of victory.
Equity Bank women’s team coach, David Maina, said: “We are on course to retaining the title. My new players are now coordinating well on the court. We lost to KPA because my four new players had not clicked at that time."
Maina said that the team is focused on turning tables on KPA when they begin the second leg in Mombasa on July 1.
In the men’s Premier League, Equity Bank rocked Lions 78-64 after making a false start to trail 17-15 in the first quarter. Lions, led by Harrison Kandie, who scored 15 points, continued to threaten the bankers, going up 28-25 at the break.
Equity reinforced their offence in the last two quarters in which Ian Wachie and Irungu Maina turned the heat on their opponents. Equity outscored Lions 21-19 and 32-17 in the third and fourth quarters respectively. Irungu Maina scored 23 points, Felix Omondi and Ian Wachie each shot 16 for the winners, with John Achola replying with 15 for Lions.
Umoja had to fight hard to defeat Zetech University 58-51 in an entertaining first leg tie. The game was tough from start considering the fact that both teams were promoted to the top league this year.
SUMMARISED RESULTS
Men: Equity Bank 76-64 Lions, Zetech University 69-51 Strathmore University, Umoja 58-51 Zetech University, KDF Morans 45-40 Blazers.
Women:
Equity Bank 65-32, USIU-A Flames Daystar University 39-38 JKUAT.
