NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28 – Kenya Ports Authority showed their experience and squad depth, surviving an early scare from first timers Zetech University to win 68-38 in Game One of the National Women’s Basketball Premier League play-offs at the Nyayo Gymnasium on Saturday night.
Zetech had run the defending champions close in the opening quarter, but the dockers managed to steady their ship in the second half of the game to draw first blood ahead of Game Two on Sunday night.
Nigerian import Ifunaya Okoro starred for the dockers with a game high 20 points, while Belinda Aluoch also recorded double figures, sinking in 11 points.
Zetech’s danger girl Mary Lisa was hugely subdued in the duel, and only managed seven points for her side.
Zetech were off to a good start, matching KPA toe to toe in the first quarter and were level up at 11-11 with 5:47 to play, having rallied from a slow start with Lisa commencing their resurgence with a well drilled three-pointer.
Lisa and Chantal Kiyobe were leading the rally for the University girls, just like they did in the semi-final sweep against Equity Hawks.
Zetech went to the lead at the end of the first quarter, former KPA post-girl Madina Okot drilling two from the free-throw line to see Zetech take a 14-13 lead.
In the second quarter, the dockers were off faster off the blocks and went on a 6-0 scoring run, with Zetech struggling to settle into the match. They did changes to their personnel, Ashley Minayo coming in to drill in under the basket and assist another as they went two points close, scores at 20-18.
With 3:29 to play, KPA called for a time-out with Zetech threatening to turn the game into their favour.
The University girls had a chance to go ahead off the fast-break with 1:50 left on the clock, but missing a simple basket was costly as they were punished heavily, Linda Alando picking the rebound and drilling a three on the other end, and a few seconds later added another.
With under a minute to play, Belinda converted 2/2 on the free throw line as KPA opened a 10-point gap, but Zetech rallied to reduce it to six at 30-24 at the break.
In the third and fourth quarters, KPA were unstoppable. Their man to man marking, especially with Hilda Indasi being given the task to mark out Lisa, completely worked in their favour.
With Lisa being forced to play on her weaker left hand and Kiyobae also tightly guarded, Zetech’s cards were exposed.
KPA led 53-27 at the end of the third quarter, their fast breaks being too much to handle for Zetech. At the end of the game, they had a 30-point gap and a clean victory, ahead of Game Two.
