NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 18 – Madina Okot put up a sensational performance with a double-double of 31 points and 17 rebounds as national champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) beat local rivals Equity Hawks 81-66 to power into the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of the Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) in Alexandria, Egypt.
The dockers led in all but the third quarter, in a dominant display against the bankers, continuing with their impressive performance in the tournament.
Victoria Reynolds also chalked double digits for KPA, amassing 11 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
Three Equity players; Debbie Obunga (10), Betty Kananu (12) and Christine Akinyi (15) also chalked double digit scores, but it wasn’t enough to power them through.
KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu was full of praise of Medina’s performance.
“She is one of the outstanding players in this championship so we keep on motivating her to bring her A-game and that is what we did ahead of this game and I am happy she delivered,” Ojukwu told FIBA after the game.
On the performance of his team in the Kenyan derby, Ojukwu said he was pleased with how his players handled pressure especially after being outscored in the third quarter.
“It was a good game and we had a good second quarter. The energy, teamwork and togetherness are the secrets to such good runs and whenever my players get themselves in a hole, they know how to get back and that has been crucial,” Ojukwu said.
His opposite number Ben Oluoch said his side’s defeat was only down to their failure to deal with madina’s menace, especially on the boards.
KPA were dominant, ending the first quarter 14-7 up. In the second half, a 12-0 scoring run helped them go to the halftime break on a 21-point lead, scores at 44-23.
Equity trailed by 25 in the first five minutes of the third quarter. However, they managed to bounce back as they went on a 20-point scoring run in the last five minutes of the quarter, Akinyi scoring half while restricting KPA to 5 to cut their deficit to 10 at 61-51 ahead of the final period.
The bankers fed off their third-quarter good run, putting up four in the opening two minutes for 61-53 but three costly turnovers gave KPA the chance to pull away again with some quick breaks for a 72-57 lead with five minutes on the clock as they went on to win.
KPA will now take on Rwanda Energyu Group (REG) in the semi-finals, in a repeat of the Africa Zone Five Championship last month where KPA won to clinch the title.
REG have recruited heavily for the Championship, including the addition of several WNBA players to their roster and this is expected to be an end to end duel.
Meanwhile, Equity will now battle for position 5-8 with a duel against University of Douala.
