NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 11 – Equity Dumas head coach Isaac Munywoki says he wants to see his players working more as a team, after they survived a near scare to edge out the Strathmore Leos 73-67 in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premiere League match at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Strathmore had rallied to lead in the second quarter, but Equity used their experienced to get over the line and move to third in the KBF League standings, with five matches remaining to the end of the regular season.
“We need to just play more as a team,” said the tactician at the end of the game.
He added; “Every game is different and takes a life of its own. I am just glad we got a win. Only ourselves know our potential and it is us we have to prove to the rest. We have lost some games we think we should have won.”
Congolese Joel Ntambwe put in a game high 20 points for the Dumas, while Victor Bosire and Cliff Alela also chalked up double digits for the bankers with 11 each.
Jason Mwodo was Strathmore’s star man over the rim as he had 16 points, with Timothy Oyoo adding in 11 though he fell into foul trouble midway through the fourth quarter.
The Dumas had a good start to the game with Bram Chevai and Victor ‘Electric’ Ochieng putting them on a 6-0 run with shots from downtown, and it is the exact rhythm they needed as they enjoyed a two-basket lead at 18-14 when the quarter ended.
In the second quarter though, Strathmore had other ideas. They started well with Jack Waweru’s well taken shot and a piece of brilliant dime to Mwodo to put it over taking them ahead for the first time in the game at 21-18 prompting a time out from Equity.
However, the bankers ensured the gap does not grow as Alela used his strength on the board to pick back to back offensive rebounds as the game sat 35-level at halftime.
In the third quarter, Equity knew they had to take command of the game and with 2:30 to play they had already opened a 10-point gap with Eugene Adera’s fade shot.
At the end of Q3, they were 53-42 up.
Strathmore had a good rally in the last quarter as they looked to bridge the gap, but Oyoo’s elimination from the game after picking his fifth foul with 6:03 to play hugely hampered their plan.
Adera and Ntambwe were crucial for Equity especially with their work in the paint, as the bankers withstood the fightback from the University lads.
Equity next play University of Nairobi’s Terror on Saturday and they hope to pick another win to land a favorable play-off position.
