Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) basketball teams, both men and women, commenced their title defense with convincing victories over Africa Nazarene University (ANU) as the playoffs began at Nyayo Gymnasium on Sunday.
The KPA women’s team dominated their game against the Panthers, cruising to a 61-17 win that resembled more of a practice session. The men’s side also emerged victorious, albeit with more effort, defeating the Wolfpack 68-52.
The women’s squad demonstrated that their unexpected loss at the Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament three weeks prior was merely a hiccup, impressing head coach Anthony Ojukwu with their solid performance.
“The playoffs’ initial round is generally less challenging, but it’s crucial to build momentum as we progress,” Ojukwu commented post-game. He also noted the team’s improved fitness, a previous concern due to the difficulty of assembling players from outside Mombasa for training.
The match was so comfortably in hand that Ojukwu was able to frequently change players on the court. ANU managed only two points in the first half and didn’t score their second basket until well into the third quarter.
KPA led 16-0 after the first quarter, thanks to captain Natalie Akinyi’s three consecutive long-range shots, and extended the lead to 33-2 by halftime. ANU showed resilience in the final quarter, outscoring KPA 11-9, with Beryl Otieno contributing six points from inside the paint.
ANU’s head coach Mike Oluoch acknowledged the team’s off-day, stating, “We have much to learn and improve upon.”
In the men’s game, the Wolfpack started strong, trailing KPA by just one point at the end of the first quarter. However, KPA’s coach Cliff Owuor made strategic adjustments in the second quarter, widening the lead to 17 points by halftime.
Despite ANU’s efforts in the latter half, the gap established by KPA’s second-quarter surge proved too significant to overcome. KPA’s point guard Tobias Odhiambo led the scoring with 14 points, supported by Abdoulaye Haidarra and John Wiljass with nine points each.
ANU’s Justine Opiyo put up a 12-point effort, but it wasn’t sufficient for a comeback. The teams are set to meet again in Mombasa for the second game of the best-of-three quarterfinal series this upcoming weekend.
