Genga pokes holes in Terror's performance after laboured win over Pirates

In a highly entertaining match played at the Nyayo Indoor Arena on Sunday, University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror got the better of varsity compatriots Kenyatta University (K.U) Pirates in a 79-77 outcome. 

The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league sides were fighting not just for league points but for bragging rights as well and, despite the win, coach Eugene Genga says his charges should have done better. 

"I have to give credit to K.U, they played beyond our expectations in that match. Their zone defense gave us all sorts of trouble and they managed to beat our zone. The win means alot for us but I still feel they should have done better so they will be running suicides for that,"

"We had a big lead in the second half and we allowed them back which should not be happening. We had lapses in concentration without which we would have picked an easy win,"  offered the tactician. 

The match could have gone either way and the conclusion was as dramatic as the rest of the match. 

With 23.2 seconds to play Pirates were in the lead at 77-75, the two sides having exchanged leads numerous times throughout the encounter. 

Genga called for timeout, a tactical one seeing as Pirates' danger-man Ivan Ombiru had just fouled out leaving the Caleb Osewe-led side without his rebounding prowess. 

On resumption, David Ochieng was fouled and stepped on the free-throw line (both sides had reached the bonus point) and missed both. 

This would have spelled doom for Terror but Pirates missed their chance when they allowed the former to get their hands on the rebound and made it count to level the score at 77 and it was Osewe's turn to call for a timeout with 16 seconds on the clock. 

"Ochieng is a player whose style of play is difficult to decipher and when I felt that our offense had stagnated I knew we needed him back in the court. He got in there and unlocked the game for us," added Genga. 

All the fans were on their feet at this point, everyone was eager to see which side would make the 16 seconds left count, but many expected the match to spill over for extra time. 

Pirates had the advantage, but what followed was almost unprecedented. Their attempt missed target by inches and the resulting rebound ended up as a common, with lady luck smilling on Terror who got possession. 

Genga made a frantic change, re-introducing Ochieng who had been subbed out in the ensuing drama. 

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His faith in the diminutive guard paid off as the ball went to him on the inbound and he beat the entire Pirates squad on a fast break to score and win an extra shot that he missed. 

Pirates, again, missed the rebound and Terror had the easy job of running down the seconds left fir a 79-77 dramatic victory.