KPA trump Uganda's JKL to begin Zone V Championship on a high

Defending Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) got off their hunt to reclaim the 2023 FIBA Africa Zone Five women's club championship title on a good start as they registered a 82-72 victory over JKL Lady Dolphins of Uganda.

In the game played at the LDK Gymnasium in Rwanda on Sunday afternoon, KPA won all quarters in the opening contest, while holding the biggest lead of the game; when they led by 13 inside the final minutes of the game.

Victoria Reynolds - one of the four additions roped in to boost the dockers in this tournament - contributed to a team and game-high total of 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, with veteran Hilda Indasi racking in a similar points total, with three assists and steals to go with her +14 rating on efficiency.

KPA jumped to a quick start as they raced to a 10-6 lead early in the first quarter, and carried the advantage in the see-saw contest that had six ties and nine lead changes, for over thirty minutes to hand the Ugandan champions their first defeat in the nine team championships.

JKL Lady Dolphins had on Saturday 28 October afternoon got their campaign underway with a convincing 84-30 victory over South Sudan’s Nile Legends, and on a day where things didn’t go their way, they had the trio of Ritah Imanishimwe, Hope Akello and skipper Flavia Oketch hit double digits with 17, 12 and 14 points respectively.

To their credit, KPA, under head coach Anthony Ojukwu, feasted off turnovers, tipping the balance with a 22-10 points advantage, while seeing their bench outscore JKL’s by a score of 35-14.

KPA out to reclaim Zone Five title in Rwanda

Madina Okot also put up a double-double with 16 points and 19 rebounds, as her fellow new face in this tournament Aminata Samassekou, added up 13 points, three steals and three assists.

KPA are next in action on Monday 30 October afternoon when they take on Tanzania’s JKT Stars in their second pool game.