KPA thump Lakers in Fiba Championships opener
Melisa Malingowe of Lakers dribbles the ball against KPA guard Debra Atieno during the opening match of their Fiba women's Africa Club Championships at the Maxaquene Indoor Courts in Maputo. KPA won 80-56. PHOTO | PHILIP ONYANGO |
IN MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
Kenya Ports Authority launched their Fiba Africa Club Championships campaign on a high, thumping hapless Lakers from Zimbabwe 80-58 in the opening match at the Maxaquene Indoor Vourts here on Saturday.
It was KPA shooting guard Jamila Zama who came out strong with a game high 26 points which KPA dominated especially in the first and third quarter.
Pacy Zama was unstoppable in the first quarter when she contributed 16 of the 24 points KPA scored in the quarter with other scorers being Taudencia Katumbi and Cynthia Irankunda as the scores stood at 24-12 at the end of the first quarter. Katumbi and Bridid Nanzala scored 13 and 11 points respectively.
The second quarter was evenly contested with Lakers point guard Melissa Malingowe proving very difficult to contain for the Dockers.
Her stylish ball handles and an eye for the rim saw her help Lakers restrict KPA to a 18-17 scoreline in the second quarter as the scores stood at 42-29 at the break.
Sensing danger, KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu changed tact in the third, going for a more aggressive pressure defence, catching his opponents by surprise as KPA outscored Lakers 22-13 for a comfortable 64-42 lead going into the fourth.
But is was the Zimbabweans who came out the better side in the final quarter which they dominated through their tight marking and pick and roll to man approach as they tied the game 16 -16 in the fourth quarter for a 80-58 scoreline.
Lakers, who were making their bow in the tournament, had Melisa Malingowe leading their scoring charts with 15 points while Stacey Wasikoti made 10 points.
"We want to take it one game at a time. We can not celebrate the win because we still have three matches to complete the group stages," KPA coach Ojukwu said after the match.
KPA women have a tough fixture against First Bank of Nigeria on Sunday, which tips off at 4pm Kenyan time.
The other Kenyan team at this games Equity Bank were due to play hosts Ferroviario from 7pm Kenyan time Saturday.
