KPA through to Zone Five semis as Hawks fall

FIBA Africa Zone Five women's club championship title holders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are through to the semi final of the ongoing championship after an easy 74-29 win over hosts Vijana Queens of Tanzania. 

Their counterparts, Equity Bank Hawks, will, however, rue their chances after falling to a charged Rwanda Energy Group (REG) that dictated the quarters match for a 52-40 victory. 

KPA to bolster squad ahead of BAL action in Madagascar

The format of the championship was changed in the last minute, with nine teams having showed up for this year's edition and a quarters level introduced that pitted the top eight teams after the group stage against each other. 

Organisers, however, got it wrong in first attempt and paired Hawks against Queens while the dockers were to re-battle REG, a side they had beaten on the final group stage match. 

It was not until late Thursday morning that the secretariat released an amended fixture with the opponents swapped ans a change in timings that caught the Kenyan sides off guard.

"From the first minute we did not have a grip on this game. We lost our concentration and I blame it on the changes made.

We had our minds set on playing at 6pm but by the time we received the communication on changes, we only had a few minutes to gather our stuff and rush to the Arena. 

Away from that, I acknowledge that we did not play well, circumstances notwithstanding. If we had, it is a match we would have won," lamented Hawks' David Maina. 

Hawks lost all but the final quarter 13-17, 5-8, 12-19 and 10-8 and are now relegated to the classification matches leaving KPA to fight through the semis and final to see the trophy remain in Kenya. 

With this loss, the bankers also gave away their chance to feature at the African Championships set for later this year. 

Meanwhile, KPA who dominated their game 22-10, 12-10, 24-04 and 16-05 continue their match to yet another title under the tutelage of Antony Ojukwu who, before the quarters had stated that no team would stand in their way. 

"Asimamaye atategwa (Whoever stands in our way will be felled )," Ojukwu said. "Like any other coach, just believe in my team's ability to lift this title." 

Ojukwu rested point guard and team captain Natalie Akinyi, having picked an injury during the final group match against REG as well as forwards Linda Alando and Belinda Okoth.