28 November 2007

KENYA : Co-op, KCB clash in a final of bankers

Story by CAXTON APOLLO

Co-operative Bank of Kenya will meet Kenya Commercial Bank Lions in the 2007 men’s Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League final.

The best-of-three final series starts at the Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.

Co-op Bank, who crushed 2-0 to Ulinzi Warriors in last year’s final, booked a date with their fellow bankers when they humiliated University of Nairobi’s Terrorists 111-56 in the decisive game three on Sunday winning by a staggering 55 points.

Terrorists had battled from down to tie the series 1-1 prompting the game three to determine who qualifies for the final. Co-op Bank, had won the semi-final opener 69-67 before the students got back into the series by winning game two 72-65. KCB Lions lost 2-1 to Ulinzi Warriors in last year’s semi-finals.

On Sunday, the students, who seem to have over celebrated their first qualification for the post-season play-offs, lost their fighting spirit leaving their fans disappointed.

Co-op Bank had an easy run to lead 24-14 and 26-16 in the first and second quarters. It was systems go for Horace Nyadera, Lewis Muya and Wycliffe Ochieng, who nailed easy points for the bankers.

Martin Okwako’s basket crossed the century mark for Co-op Bank at 100-47 with three minutes and eight seconds left.

The Genga brothers Eugene and Rodney showed little effort for the students and left their star Brian Busu an overworked man.

Muya hit game-high 26 points, Ochieng scored 18 and Okwako 14 for Co-op Bank while Busu connected 26 points and Rodney Genga 12 for the losers.

The women’s final, will pit last year’s losing finalists Kenya Ports Authority against debutants Flames of the United States International University of Africa.

KPA beat Eagle Wings 68-60 in game two match in Mombasa to qualify while Flames of the USIU knocked out Sprite Storms 42-41 in a low- scoring decisive game three match.

The dockwomen had beaten Eagle Wings 47-41 in game one in Nairobi and their home victory saw them advance on a 2-0 sweep.

Sprite Storms, on the other hand had forced a 1-1 tie after winning game two 82-61.

Telkom and KPA men’s teams had no opposition in their Division One category where they easily eliminated their opponents Mennonites and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2-0 to sail into the 2007 final.

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