KPA, Strathmore storm Zone Five Championship quarters
KPA's Annrose Atieno (right) blocks the path of JKT shooting guard Mpera Upendo during their Fiba Zone Five Club Championship match at the Dar es Salaam Indoor Courts, Tanzania on October 3, 2018. KPA won 75-43. PHOTO | PHILIP ONYANGO |
What you need to know:
- KPA still have fixtures against Uganda Christian University (UCU) and counterparts Equity Bank on Sunday.
- Equity Bank, who beat UCU.in their opening match, were due to play APR Rwanda Thursday afternoon before taking on JKT on Friday.
IN DAR ES SALAAM
Strathmore Blades and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Thursday stormed the quarterfinals of this year's Fiba Zone Five Championship here at the Dar es Salaam Indoor Courts.
The students, who have lost three games already, vented their anger on Welkite from Ethiopia with a 101-45 hiding to storm the knock out stage of the competition.
The win, the second for the students after they were awarded a walk over in their opening match against New Star from Burundi who arrived late, ensured the youthful Blades finish fourth in group B ahead of New Star and the Ethiopians.
Blades had heavily lost matches against Oilers, Al Ahly and Patriots.
It was a fruitful day for champions KPA women after they registered their third straight win beating Welkite from Ethiopia 91-23 to stay on course for another title.
KPA men were also in a celebration mood after their emphatic 76-44 win over Jeshi La Kujenga Taifa (JKT) of Tanzania gave them a ticket to the quarter finals at the expense of the hosts.
Against Wilkite, in a match which saw Blades register only the second century mark after Egypt's Smouha had beaten the Ethiopians 108-26, the Kenyans went straight into the offensive outscoring their opponents 29-6 in the first quarter and led 53-23 at the break.
A combination of proper execution from beyond the arc and dominance inside the paint saw Blades control proceedings throughout the four quarters.
George Omondi, the 2014 All Africa Youth Games best Dunker, scored a game high 24 points, while George Okoth had 12 and Djellan Oduor 19.
Temesgen Sefera was the Ethiopian's top scorer with 19 points, while Daniel Ergutu scored seven.
The KPA, Welkite encounter was one-sided with the dockers racing to a 27-4 first quarter lead and 51-12 at the break.
International Mercy Wanyama led the offence with 20 points, Brigid Nyongesa had 14, while Annrose Atieno made 10.
Welkite replied through Abebe Atsedemaryane who scored 10.
KPA still have fixtures against Uganda Christian University (UCU) and counterparts Equity Bank on Sunday.
Equity Bank, who beat UCU.in their opening match, were due to play APR Rwanda Thursday afternoon before taking on JKT on Friday.
