Point guard Paul Nyakinda gave Co-operative Bank a taste of what they lost as he top scored with 17 points to lead Nairobi City Thunder to a 79-75 win over the bankers on Sunday.
He joined Thunder this season from Co-op Bank and his play counted heavily.
In the first quarter, Nyakinda scored six crucial points as Thunder came down from nine points at 4-13.
The points inspired his team to a seven-point win in the quarter of 24-17. His third basket gave Thunder their first lead of 14-13 with 7:20 played.
The bankers had raced to a quick lead with Job Byron scoring six points. In the third quarter, Nyakinda stood out again for Thunder by sinking three three-pointers to help restore a ten-point lead. They had led by ten points for the first time early into the second quarter at 27-17.
Even at half time
In the quarter that Co-op Bank won 21-12, Byron was at the tail end of a comeback by the bankers with a basket four minutes to play that tied scores 29-29.
Sila Awuor gave the bankers a 30-29 lead from the free-throw line and the game tied for two more times at 34-34 and 36-36.
Thunder led 36-34 and Co-op Bank 38-36 at halftime. In the third quarter, Thunder reigned supreme with a 26-19 win.
They led 43-42, 46-44, 49-46 and 52-50 on their way to opening up the ten-point gap. Co-op Bank led 44-43 with ties of 46-46 and 50-50.
The bankers won the fourth quarter 18-17 with leads of 65-64, 67-65 and 75-74. Thunder led 74-73 and 76-75 with a 65-65 tie.
Abel Nson fired four three-pointers to add 16 points for Thunder with Jack Agunda contributing 11. Kevin Kigotho top scored for Co-op Bank with 19 points, Joshua Kisali finished with 15 points while Byron scored 14.
Trailblazer pick maximum points this weekend
Thunder lost 50-77 to Trailblazers. It was a double win for Trailblazers after beating Lions 75-55 on Sunday.
The game had a balanced contest in the first three quarters but Lions gave up the fight in the fourth quarter. They suffered a blow after Harrison Kaudia and John Acholla fouled out.
Until the last minute of the third quarter when Trailblazers scored 10 points to open the big lead, the margin remained slim all through.
Trailblazers won the first quarter 14-13 with leads of 4-2 and 12-11 while Lions led 2-0, 6-4, 7-6 and 13-12.
The teams tied 2-2, 4-4 and 6-6. In the second quarter, Trailblazers enjoyed a two-point gap after winning 17-16 and led 17-15, 20-19 and 31-29 at halftime.
Lions enjoyed the lead at 15-14, 23-22 and 29-27 with ties of 15-15, 19-19, 27-27 and 29-29. Trailblazers won the third quarter 19-11 having led twice at 33-32 and 42-40 while Lions led twice as well at 32-31 and 38-37.
There was a 40-40 tie in the quarter. A big win of 25-15 in the fourth quarter made all the difference in the game for Trailblazers who stretched their lead to 24 points at 74-50.
Alex Oguso scored 18 points for Trailblazers, Lenson Kisia added 15 points and Present Orengo finished with 12. Cedrick Omondi scored 13 points for Lions with Dennis Opiyo adding 10.
Sixth straight win for Umoja
For Umoja, they registered their sixth straight win beating Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U) 43-34.
Umoja won the first quarter 10-6, the third 12-2 and the fourth 18-15. KCA-U who won the second quarter 11-3 had Auka Awour and Felix Omondi score six points each.
Gilbert Obiero scored six free shots to top score for Umoja with 12 points and Allan Ouma added 10.
On Saturday, they beat Lions 75-56. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) beat Equity Bank 61-57 in Mombasa.
Mixed results for defending women's champions
In the women’s Premier League, defending champions Equity Bank lost 55-61 to KPA while Eagle Wings beat Storms 75-62.
Eagle Wings scored 12 free shots in the fourth quarter and 24 for the entire game while Storms successfully made five three-pointers.
Volnet Wanyama top scored for Eagles with 18 points while Eunice Ouma and Winnie Wafula scored 14 points each. Sylvia Omollo top scored for Storms with 16 points as Linet Mukiri made three three-pointers to finish with 12 points.
Results: Saturday- KU Oryx 40 USIU-A 45, Umoja 75 Lions 56, Trailblazers 77 Thunder 50, KPA ladies 61 Equity Bank 55, KPA men 61 Equity Bank 57, Ulinzi Warriors 69 KCA-U 40, Eldonets 70 KU Pirates 60, Lakeside 61 Zetech University 43; Sunday- Kisumu Lady Bucks 33 Masaku Sparks 74, Storms 62 Eagle Wings 75, Trailblazers 75 Lions 55, Umoja 43 KCA-U 34, Co-op Bank 75 Thunder 79, Riara University 65 4-Christ 74, Footprints 58 Gladiators 34, World Hope 52 ANU 56, KDF Morans 43 EMYBA 38, MKU Thika 47 Neosasa 44.
