KPA defend women's basketball title after Sparks sweep

Kenya Ports Authority ladies are the 2022-23 Kenya Basketball Federation Champions for a record 17th time after closing out the finals series with a 68-43 Game 3 victory over Zetech Sparks at the Makande Hall in Mombasa on Saturday.

Winning the championship is one, but finishing the entire post-season unbeaten adds another feather in Anthony Ojukwu’s cap - The Dockers ultimately winning it all for the fifth consecutive year.

Mid-season acquisition Ifunaya Okoro will look back to what has been a tremendous season for her and the entire team as she once again proved to be the difference with a game-high 27 points in the game.

Hilda Indasi one of the most experienced players for the dockers' side was the only other double-digit scorer for the team, bar Natalie Akinyi’s 13 points, with a 14 points, seven assists, and six steals performance.

Valerie Kemunto was Zetech’s only double-digit scorer with 13 points, as KPA emerged victors in almost every statistical category - be it rebounds (42-39), assists (13-11), field goals made (21-17) and floor percentages (39- 29).

The home side, coming off two wins on the road, trailed early in the encounter as they stumbled to a 16-8 deficit before they clawed back in the second period - winning 11-6 and only trail by three points going into the break.

The third quarter was all different for KPA again as they won 19-9 before wrapping up the demolition with a convincing 30-12 advantage in the fourth.

Bball Playoffs: Odhiambo rallies Dumas in quest for maiden title

At last, the queen is back on top, but credit to the varsity side Sparks who believed and dared to rattle not one but two women’s basketball powerhouses.

In the men’s finals, defending champions Kenya Ports Authority regained control of the series after blowing out Equity Bank Dumas 68-44 in Game Three at the Makande Hall in Mombasa.

Jumping out to a series lead before falling 70-69 in Game Two on the road, Ojukwu’s men made the right amends - rallying behind two big performances from Lennox Wanje and Eugene Adera - who scored 20 and 14 points respectively in the win.

KPA dominated the first quarter winning 22-7 on the back of Job Byron’s six points to take a comfortable 32-18 lead at halftime that eventually ballooned following 16-12, 19-15 advantages in the second half.

Given that Dumas have been in this position before, the series is still very much active as both teams prepare to take to the court for Game 4 on Sunday at the same venue.

In case of a win, Equity will extend their stay there for another day with Game 5 penciled for Monday afternoon.