The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) team, reigning champions of the National Women’s Basketball League, emerged victorious against the Equity Hawks with a score of 54-46 in a thrilling display of basketball prowess.
The match, which took place on Saturday night at the Ulinzi Complex, marked the opening of Group A in the Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament.
The game’s pivotal moment came during the third quarter when KPA, despite being behind 31-26 at halftime, managed to hold the Hawks to a mere free throw point throughout the entire quarter. This defensive masterclass was instrumental in their comeback and eventual triumph. Coach Anthony Ojukwu’s strategic bench rotations proved effective, as the Mombasa-based team overcame their initial deficit to secure the win.
Coach Ojukwu expressed his intent to diversify playing time among his team members, particularly those who typically see less action during league matches. He acknowledged the need for improvement to narrow the skill gap between his starting lineup and the rest of the team.
Ojukwu also highlighted the tournament’s significance as a preparatory ground for the upcoming playoffs, offering a competitive edge and insights into the team’s standing and areas for development.
Grace Irebu, KPA’s Congolese import, delivered an outstanding performance with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the only player from her team to reach double digits in scoring. Other notable contributors included Belinda Okoth with nine points, and Rebecca Nkatha and Vilma Owino each adding eight points to the tally.
The match commenced with a tightly contested first quarter, concluding with KPA narrowly leading 15-14. The Equity Hawks stepped up their game in the second quarter, but KPA’s halftime adjustments and a 6-0 scoring run at the start of the third quarter shifted the momentum in their favor.
As the game approached its final stages, Equity Hawks’ coach Ben Oluoch called for a timeout in an attempt to disrupt KPA’s rhythm, but to no avail. KPA maintained their lead and secured the win, ensuring an A1 seeding for themselves. The Equity Hawks, on the other hand, faced the challenge of securing a win in their next game against Storms to achieve an A2 seeding.
In Pool B, university teams Zetech, USIU, and Strathmore are set to compete, promising an exciting series of matchups in the tournament.
