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L. MathekaSweep! Zetech Sparks stun Equity to storm KBF playoff final
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 20.05.23. | 21:21
The varsity side face off with KPA Ladies in the best-of-five final set to throw off next weekend.
This was not meant to happen. This could not happen. This is happening. It is the youngsters from Zetech University who have come to Equity Hawks home ground and pulled off a "miracle"!
Yes, yes...we all know how the original quote goes, but I couldn't help but use it for the awe-inspiring Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women's league finalists Zetech Sparks.
Up against former league champions Equity Hawks in the best-of-five semis series, the Maurice Obilo-coached Sparks stunned the bankers 3-0 to book their maiden playoff final.
Brooms flew after the FT whistle! @ZetechUni Spark are through to the @kbf_basketball final after sweeping @EquityHawks 3-0 in the best-of-five semis series 🔥 pic.twitter.com/poyAH20bQ2
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) May 20, 2023
In what finally turned to be the series-winning Game Three, Spark went on a rampage winning in a convincing 70-40 scoreline.
"We were confident of beating Equity but going 3-0 was unprecedented and so we thank God for this.
This means alot to us and to the players. We have made it to our first ever final and its is a commendable performance.
We shift our focus to the final where we play the champions, but my players are ready to fave anyone. We will definitely compete in the final," coach Maurice Obilo told Mozzart Sport after the victory.
In the first half, Sparks dominated, winning the two periods 18-13 and 20-12 for a 13-point lead heading to the break.
The first period was a Chantal Kiyobe show as the Rwandese International scored 13 of the 18 points the varsity side managed, nine from behind the arc.
Hawks struggled to stop the shots and even worse, to convert on their own basket with experienced forward Silalei Shani scoring eight.
Obilo's charges picked from where they had left as the second quarter got underway with shooting guard Maureen Bosibori rising for a trey take their tally to 21.
Kiyobe was on the score sheet again with back-to-back baskets from the paint, forcing the fired-up Hawks' gaffer Sylvia Kamau to call for a timeout as her side trailed 25-13.
Rachael Akinyi and Annrose Mandela's three pointers in the second quarter did little for Hawks as Madina Okot, who until that point had adopted the rebounding role wholeheartedly scored seven to aid Sparks into the huge lead at half time.
Nothing much changed in the second half, despite Hawks going ahead 11-08 in the third quarter as Sparks dominated all fronts in the final period for 24-04 to pick a 30-point win.
Meanwhile, holders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are through to the final where coach Antony Ojukwu is hoping to guide them to yet another title.
The tactician can rest easy now after his women's league side got through as his only assignment now is beating Nairobi City Thunder in Game Four to seal a final berth for his men's side.
Up against Strathmore University Swords, the dockers won Game Three easily in a 69-47 scoreline to seal their slot and continue their unbeaten run this season.
Belinda Okoth and Vilma Achieng sank 14 points each in the win with Ronnie Owino's charges Joy Mpalia and Sharon Ogaji scoring 12 each in the varsity side's loss.
In the men's side, Martin Kitong'o led the scoring with 13 as Victor Odendo and Leek Deng added 11 and ten points respectively in KPA's 78-32 thrashing of Thunder to lead the series 2-1.
