MAB get the better of Snipers in KBF's 'sibling rivalry'

Division one debutants Moi Airbase (MAB) emerged victorious in their Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) clash with rivals and fellow military men Snipers picking a 81-75 crucial victory. 

Coming into the match, the Moses Shida-coached airforce men, MAB, were the underdogs but they came out guns blazing to lead the first quarter 28-20 and leave a stunned Snipers side with some adjusting to do. 

Snipers made amends and were the better side in the second quarter, scoring 22 against MAB's 21 but the first quarter damage was still hurting them as they trailed seven points going into the breather. 

"It was a very intense match so this win means alot. Snipers had the advantage of size so we had to find a way to beat them and we used a press defense that caught them by surprise. 

We, however, were not perfect and will definitely take a few lessons from this match. Our patience on the ball was tested and at some point we could not take care of the ball and gave away many turnovers that almost cost us the game," said MAB's skipper Mohamed Salim who was happy that his side got the better of their military side. 

From the locker room, MAB had found their rythm again and went 23-18 to add to Snipers' misery after maintaining their double-digits lead. 

Trailing by 12 points at 72-60 in the last ten minutes of the game, the Ancet Wafula-led side needed all the strength they could master if they were to mount a comeback. 

Their defensive instincts kicked in and the red-clad side made life difficult for Shida's side, picking every rebound they could get and denying their fellow military men penetration to the paint. 

They were, however, slow in rewarding themselves with baskets and the comeback was painfully slow and unsuccessful.  

With 6 minutes and 36 seconds to play, Snipers had reduced the deficit to eight at 74-66 and Shida needed to have a word with his charges, sensing danger. 

The nets remained dry for MAB, scoring three points in six minutes of play to lead 75-69 with 4.19 on the clock. Their advantage was further reduced to three at 75-72 and 77-74.

Brans Nzioka stepped on the free-throw converting once for the score to read 77-75. The tide, however, changed and MAB scored four to deny Snipers their comeback as the match ended 81-75 in favour of MAB. 

"It was a privilege playing MAB. Everyone came for the win but at the end of the match our lapses cost us a crucial game as things worked in favour of MAB. We live to fight another day. 

General awareness on the court for us was our major undoing and we allowed them to score alot of open shots in the first quarter and that lead came back to hurt us. 

We have to go back and work on our awareness on the court and reaction whether in the lead or trailing. If we had reacted in good time to their surge, the match would have gone alot differently," said Snipers' skipper Graham Indasi. 

This was the Airforce side's fourth victory in seven matches.