KPA strike Thunder to set stage for Sunday thriller against Equity

Kenya Ports Authority's (KPA) bench power proved too good for Nairobi City Thunder as the Sammy Kiki led side played to a 69-51 win in a match played at the Nyayo Indoor Arena.

It was the visitors who drew first blood going up 4-0 before Thunder could recover to lead 4-5. Their stay at the he was, however, shortlived as KPA outscored them to lead 10-5 with 4.18 minutes to play. 

A trey for Thunder reduced the difference to two at 10-8 and again at 12-10 with less than two minutes to play. Sadat Gaya's men leveled the score at 12 points with a minute on the cloc. 

Kiki confident KPA will withstand Thunder, Equity offensive

Coach Kiki was forced into a timeout as the dockers had lost numerous scoring chances that would have otherwise seen them holding a comfortable lead at this point. That, however, did not stop Griffin Ligare from giving his side the lead at 14-12 at the end of the first quarter. 

It took KPA two minutes to catch up at 14 in the second quarter as Thunder jealously guarded their paint making Kiki's men sweat for any points. 

KPA assumed lead at 17-16 and went 21-16 up and it was Gaya's turn to call for a timeout. Kiki's charges, however, were relentless in the ensuing minutes going 24-16 up before the hosts could recover. 

John Wiljass and Fidel Muga bagged threes in the dying minutes of the second quarter to aide KPA take a eight-point advantage to the break. 

The visitors came out of the locker rooms ready to put an end to the see-saw and they had the difference at ten points and soon stretched it to 15 at 40-25 as Job Byron put up a stellar performance that gave the dockers a comfortable cushion with three minutes to play. 

Ojukwu yearning for better competition as KPA prepare for Zone Five championship

Thunder seemed to have no answer for KPA's onslaught and they found themselves trailing 19 points at 50-31 with no chance for a comeback in the final quarter as the dockers were clearly the better side.

The final period started with a barren two minutes with Dennis Ongwae breaking the ice from the free-throw line for 50-32 before made it 34 from a mid-range jumper with seven minutes to play. 

It took KPA four minutes to get their first basket of the quarter, but not before Thomas Kioko had converted twice from the line for 50-36. 

With five minutes to play, Kiki's charges found themselves in foul trouble but Thunder did little to capitalise on that as they trailed 55-44 with 4.05 to play and went on to lose 69-51. 

In another match, Strathmore Blades beat Kisumu Lakeside 76-42.