The coaching staff for Team Kenya at the recently concluded FIBA 3×3 under 23 World Championships in Lublin, Poland, has expressed their satisfaction with the team’s overall performance.
The men’s and women’s teams secured one victory each, despite facing tough competition, and finished fourth in the final standings of the five-team table. They are set to return home on Tuesday.
Coach Tony Ochieng, responsible for the men’s team, emphasized that Kenya has made a significant mark on the world stage. He praised the team’s resilience and ability to compete against some of the top-ranked squads, stating, “The boys pushed the best-ranked players in the tournaments to the wall.”
Ochieng noted that the team performed admirably, amassing 66 points in their inaugural appearance at the championship. He believes this experience will be invaluable in enhancing their tactics and firmly believes that Kenya will establish itself as a top team in 3×3 basketball.
Women’s coach, Ouma, lauded the female athletes for their impressive performance, particularly for securing their first victory in a world championship.
She emphasized that their journey is one of growth and experience, expressing her pride in the team’s achievements. She stated, “We have proved to the world that we can do this. We have made history.”
In the men’s category, Kenya competed in Pool ‘C’ and faced defeats against Israel and Qatar with identical scores of 21-15, followed by a 21-14 loss to Germany. They received a walk-over victory against Tunisia.
The women’s team, competing in Pool ‘A’, secured a 21-9 victory over Austria but faced tough losses with scores of 22-5 against the Netherlands, 22-11 against China, and 21-12 against the USA.
Both teams displayed remarkable determination and earned their spots in the global festival after accumulating points in various competitions, including the All Africa Games, Nations Cup, and World Championship campaigns.
