Co-operative Bank lost more ground and slipped out of the top two in the men’s Premier League after going down 63-67 to the visiting Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) over the weekend.
It was the second straight loss for the bankers who were also beaten by Nairobi City Thunder a week earlier.
They are now third on the log with 25 points having played a game less than leaders Ulinzi Warriors on 29 points and two less than second-placed Umoja who have 26 points.
In this match, KPA, the biggest winner from the weekend fixtures with two away wins led 32-26 at halftime after winning the first quarter 21-9 and Co-op Bank won the second 17-11.
KPA claimed the third quarter 22-18 and Co-op Bank won the fourth 19-13. Daniel Omondi scored 24 points for the dockers and Fidel Muga scored 14 points for the bankers.
On Sunday, KPA dismissed Thunder 80-55 from a 40-29 halftime lead. It was Thunder who set the right pace with a 15-9 win in the first quarter and led 2-0, 3-2 and 10-7. KPA led 7-5 only with ties of 2-2, 5-5 and 7-7.
In the second quarter, Thunder opened up a nine-point lead of 20-11 but KPA came back strongly. They tied scores 25-25 with 3:57 to play from a basket by Ariel Okal.
The dockers then took their second lead of 27-25 from a second straight basket by Okal. They dominated the entire quarter and won 31-14.
Another strong performance and total domination in the third quarter had KPA win 24-8 while an 18-16 win in the fourth quarter by Thunder had no effect on the final scores.
Evans Letting and Moses Wanjala scored 14 points each for KPA with Jack Agunda scoring 19 points for Thunder.
KPA are now seventh on the log with 21 points same as Thunder who have played two games more.
Ulinzi maintain lead
Ulinzi maintained their lead after getting past Equity Bank 86-69. In the first quarter, Ulinzi won 22-17 but after an exchange with the bankers.
Kevin Chogo went to the free-throw line to give Equity a 2-0 lead and John Washika tied for Ulinzi with a basket. Chogo scored another two free shots to break the tie with William Ochieng making it 4-4 for Ulinzi with a basket.
Tiberius Menya sunk a three-pointer for Ulinzi and Ian Wachie replied for Equity in equal measure to tie scores 7-7. Menya then broke the tie with a basket and that was the beginning of their dominance.
Equity won the second quarter 16-14 but Ulinzi led 36-33 at the breather. Ulinzi won the third quarter 28-15 and the fourth 22-21.
William Ochieng top-scored for Ulinzi with 13 points and Washika added 13. Irungu Maina made four straight three-pointers in the fourth quarter to top score for Equity with 15 points, Alex Lugasi scored 14, Chogo had 12 and Wachie finished with 10.
Martin Okwako and Rodgers Ombati combined for 35 points to help Umoja maintain their winning run after beating Zetech University 65-58. Faheem Kizito top scored for Zetech with 16 points.
Blades slay Lions
Strathmore Blades beat Lions 67-55 while the United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) scored four points in the last 40 seconds to beat Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U) 69-65.
Yoni Wanambiro top scored for USIU-A with 17 points while Alex Ramazani and Joe Okanga scored 15 each. David Odera scored 14 points for KCA-U and Frank Ogalo added 11.
In the women’s Premier League, KPA recorded their 10th and 11th wins by beating Co-op Bank 82-40 and Eagle Wings 75-42.
Kenyatta University Oryx beat Zetech University 55-50. Diana Milungo top-scored with 16 points, Berine Okoth fired three three-pointers to add 13 points and Rita Onyango finished with 12.
Linda Kimemia made three three-pointers and scored five free shots to lead scoring for Zetech with 14 points while Evelyne Atieno made two three-pointers and scored seven free shots to add 13 points.
Western Delight lost twice; 44-86 to Eagle Wings on Saturday and 50-71 to Storms on Sunday. Equity Bank beat Strathmore University 51-33.
Results
Saturday: Umoja 65 Zetech University 58, Eagle Wings 86 Western Delight 44, Lions 55 Strathmore University Blades 67, Equity Bank Hawks 51 Strathmore University Swords 33, Co-op Bank 40 KPA (women) 82, Co-op Bank 63 KPA (men) 67, Neosasa 50 Little Prince 54, Riara University 60 Trailblazers 45, UoN Terrorists 50 Nakuru Club 65, World Hope 57 Zetech University Sharks 37, KAA 45 ANU 71, Kenyatta University Pirates 50 Strathmore University 60.
Sunday: Storms 71 Western Delight 50, Zetech University 50 Kenyatta University Oryx 55, Eagle Wings 42 KPA 75, KCA-U 65 USIU-A 69, Equity Bank 69 Ulinzi Warriors 86, Thunder 55 KPA 80, ANU 43 Footprints 49, 4-Christ 64 NIBS 52, Gladiators 30 Masaku Sparks 55, Strathmore University 36 KCA-U 31, Barclays Bank 68 ANU 51.
