Betty Kananu (L) of Masaku Sparks defend against Hellen Oketch of KPA at a previous match. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women’s basketball emerged victorious over Equity Bank with the final score 63-49 .The game was played in their final round-robin match during this year’s qualifier’s event held in Kampala ended October 7th.
Natalie Akinyi, KPA’s point guard was voted the Most Valuable Player and Best Point Guard after her team successfully defended their FIBA Africa Zone Five title.
Anthony Ojukwu, the team coach is upbeat that the team will perform better this year. This is after being eliminated at the quarter final stage in last year’s competition held in the Mozambique capital, Maputo. The two Kenyan women teams will now represent Zone Five at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Angola on November 3 rd.
The team coach is hoping to have his two key players Yvonne Akinyi who suffered a knee injury and Congo-based Yolanda Ngoi, who is yet to be cleared by FIBA to take part in the Angola trip so as to bolster his squad. The team expects stiff competition and therefore needs all members on board.
The women’s team has won the national league title 13 times and has defended their regional title over 6 times having first won it in 2001. Both Kenyan teams are on course to reach the playoffs in the Kenya Basketball Federation league.