Kenya Ports Authority’s quest to secure a spot in the Elite 16 of the 2024 Basketball Africa League qualification has been derailed after they narrowly lost their second game to Tanzanian champions Pazi.
The dockers had previously triumphed over Elan Coton after an initial loss to Burundi’s Dynamos. Their aspirations hinged on a victory against Pazi, but they were defeated 69-67 in Dar es Salaam. Baraka Sadick Athumani’s crucial basket with just 20 seconds remaining sealed the deal for Pazi.
Athumani contributed 21 points for Pazi, while Dhie Abwok led the game with 24 points, securing a vital victory for the home side in their inaugural BAL campaign.
KPA’s new signing, Tyrone Jordan, was the team’s top scorer with 21 points. Luqman Lundy and Eugene Adera also made notable contributions with 17 and 11 points, respectively.
The game got off to an intense start, with KPA taking an early lead, finishing the first quarter with an 18-17 advantage. However, Pazi turned the tide in their favour by halftime.
The third and fourth quarters saw a reversal of fortune, with Pazi dominating the third and KPA fighting back in the fourth. Despite their comeback efforts, KPA fell short of securing a winning basket.
Pazi outscored KPA 24-14 in the third quarter, giving them an 11-point lead going into the final stages of this highly charged contest.
