L. MathekaWarriors get title defence off to a winning start
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 16.04.22. | 21:50
The two sides clash in Game Two on Sunday with the series set to continue next weekend in Nairobi.
Ulinzi Warriors guard Victor Bosire starred for the military side, sinking a match high 36 points to hand the William Balozi-led a crucial 68-66 victory against Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)
The two sides locked horns in a tense Game One of the best-of-five Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) final series at Makande Hall as the soldiers look to defend their league title.
"We lost concentration in the last two minutes of the match and Warriors took advantage to win. We turned the ball over three times in those minutes and we lost our lead and the lost.
Our defense, especially guarding Bosire who kept punishing us, was wanting and that has to change. We have to change a few things ahead of Game Two," said a disappointed Sammy Kiki.
Warriors led 10-8 in the first five minutes of the encounter but the dockers kept the see-saw going to tie the period at 15 points.
It was Kiki's men who returned rejuvenated for the second quarter to score 19 against the soldiers' 13 to lead by six points headingbinto the breather at 28-34.
Ulinzi Warriors beat KPA on game 1
— The Broadcast (@thebroadcastke) April 16, 2022
KPA today went down to the defending champions 68-66 at their home court in Makhande in Mombasa.
With one more game to be played in the famous Mombasa gymnasium alot of pressure comes down to the coach and the players.#TheBroadcastSports pic.twitter.com/ovFn9TU7tK
Warriors, who were without the services of suspended Kenya Morans guard Eric Mutoro, were not letting the hosts have it easy in the second half.
Balozi's men lowered their deficit to just a basket heading to the final period after scoring 24 points against KPA's 20 as the latter led 54-52 setting the stage for the thriller that was the final period.
With two minutes left on the clock, KPA had a four-point cushion at 66-62. Bosire went on the line and made sure to lower the advantage to just a basket which he proceeded to score and hammered the winner home with nine seconds on the clock. Even a timeout for KPA at this point could not save their case.
Bosire, who was on the floor for the entire match shot 50 percent from beyond the arc. He made seven of fourteen in his three point attempts. David Ouma had 12 points while James Mwangi scored eight for the Warriors.
KPA's Ken Wachira top scored for Kiki's men at 22 while guard Lennox Wanje contributed 17 as John Wiljass scored 14.
Mutoro is expected to return to the starting five for the Warriors on Sunday after completing his two-match suspension.
