Basketball: Baptism by fire for ABSA, USIU

Making their debut in the top league, the ABSA Bank men's basketball side are yet to find their footing as they went down to former champions Ulinzi Warriors in a 91-53 outcome during a match played on Saturday, September 16 at Nyayo Indoor gymnasium.

The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) top-tier league is just getting started, now in round two, having taken a quick sabbatical but now seemingly settled after an order for a stop to all basketball activities was lifted.

Playing the last match of the day, Bernard Mufutu's men had to fight at the beginning, going 22-17 and 19-16 ahead in the first two quarters to carry an 8-point advantage to the half-time break.

Diamond League: Koech takes the world by storm as Omanyala settles for third

They, however, recovered to put the match to bed in the third quarter, going 21-08 to see their advantage balloon to 21 points going into the final stanza.

To not leave business unfinished, the military side went 29-12 in the fourth period to bag their first 90+ win and the second victory of the season.

Brans Nzioka, in his debut season in the top-tier league, having been promoted from KDF Snipers, led the scoring for Mufutu's men with 16 points, while another debutant, Reagan Okere added 14 to the final tally. Elisha Odhiambo also bagged double digits with 13 points.

Denis Kemboi was ABSA's danger man, dropping 18 points, but his efforts alone, as none of his teammates hit the double, were not enough to hand the bankers victory.

In another match, the star-studded Nairobi City Thunder bagged their second win of the season with a dominant display in the second half of their match against the returning United States International University (USIU) Tigers.

The Brad Ils- coached side picked up a 94-58 win over George Mayienga's charges without the services of James Mwangi and skipper Griffin Ligare who are away on 3x3 assignments, a clear statement of the depth the team boasts.

In Friday’s action, Isaac Munywoki-coached Equity Dumas lost 65-62 to Umoja and will be on a redemption mission when they take on the USIU Tigers on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Nyayo indoor gymnasium.

Umoja, on their part, come up against the new-look Thunder in a match that the latter go into as favourites.