KPA finish seventh in Fiba Championships

Jamila Zama of KPA (left) dribbles past MB2 All screen during their Fiba Africa Women Club Championships classification match in Maputo on November 25, 2018. KPA won 52-49 to finish seventh. PHOTO | PHILIP ONYANGO |

What you need to know:

  • Nothing was working for KPA's starting five forcing coach Anthony Ojukwu to introduce Becky Nkatha and Christine Akinyi who tipped the scales in their favour for a deserved 24-19 lead at the break
  • The third quarter was evenly contested but the Madagascans won 20-15 forcing a 39-39 stalemate heading to the fourth quarter
  • KPA needed a three-pointer at the death to decide matters against a team they had beaten easily in the preliminaries

IN MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) survived a scare from Madagascar's MB2 All, leaving it late for a 52-49 win to finish seventh at the Fiba Africa Women Club Championships in Maputo on Sunday.

The Dockers, who together with Kenya's other representatives Equity Bank return home on Monday night, produced a dour display allowing their opponents a lot of space especially in the first quarter where MB2 All led 12-06 with Sydonie Andriamihajarison and Nivo Imma Romina doing most of the damage.

Nothing was working for KPA's starting five - Cynthia Irankunda, Linet Atieno, Yvonne Akinyi, Brigid Nanzala and Jamila Zama - forcing coach Anthony Ojukwu to introduce Becky Nkatha and Christine Akinyi who tipped the scales in their favour for a deserved 24-19 lead at the break.

Cynthia Irankunda of KPA (left) guards Solostlana Mamplonona of MB2 All during their Fiba Africa Women Club Championships classification match in Maputo on November 25, 2018. KPA won 52-49 to finish seventh. PHOTO | PHILIP ONYANGO |

The third quarter was evenly contested but the Madagascans won 20-15 forcing a 39-39 stalemate heading to the fourth quarter. KPA needed a three-pointer at the death to decide matters against a team they had beaten easily in the preliminaries.

"Players tend to relax once they are out of the main cup which is not right because everyone save for Becky Nkatha switched off today but it's good we signed off on a positive note," Ojukwu said after the match.

Inter Club of Angola and Ferroviario of Mozambique were due to face off in the final after Inter Club easily saw off Victoria Club from Congo 78-39 while Ferroviario had to come from behind to beat First Bank of Nigeria 72 -58.