Morans secure another win in buildup to FIBA AfroCan Championship

Kenya men’s national basketball team - Kenya Morans - on Tuesday evening secured their third pre-AfroCan victory after successfully navigating through Equity Dumas select side 85-62 in a friendly fixture played at the Nyayo Stadium Indoor Arena.

The match, the last of three friendly games, was the latest opportunity for the Kenyan side to sharpen their arsenals ahead of their upcoming assignment - the FIBA AfroCan Tournament slated for July 8-16 in Angola.

In front of a rather minimal crowd, the select side got to a 3-0 lead straight from the jump, and through Tyler Ongwae, but the Kenyan side regained their composure, punching on early through big efforts from newcomer Brandon Muchina, who was a constant threat inside the paint.

Kenya, led by head coach Cliff Owour, who returned to the country this week and watched hi side match up for the first time this window, took a comfortable 18-3 lead, that was later whittled down to 18-12 at the end of he first, and thanks to Equity’s big 6-0 run at the last 1:59 of the quarter.

The tale of the entire game was however different afterwards, as the combined effort of veteran leadership and grit saw Morans, buoyed by the return of international players - Fidel Okoth and Derrick Ogechi - stormed to 43-27 and 66-46 leads in the second and third quarters, all but wrapping up their third straight friendly win,

League MVP Eugene Adera and City Thunder’s Griffin Ligare led the scoring with 14 points each, as APR’s Bush Wamukota added 11 in the masterful watch that had Muchina post upa ferocious dunk midway through the second period.

“What was more important for me was to see the new guys and how they adapt to different situations from time-outs,” head coach Cliff Owuor said post-game. “I think they did well. A couple more sessions in Luanda as we jet out on Thursday. I’d say we were good.”

Kenya, with the win, one that coincides 65-42 and 99-97 wins over Kenyan-based South Sudan select and Equity Bank Dumas, will now embark on a few ‘mental adjustments’ as the ramp up to do better than the 2019 games when they clinched silver in Bamako, Mali.

Morans, with 13 players in their rotation, have been pooled in the same group with Gabon and Ivory Coast in Group A, and per the coach, despite the pressure of being runners up to Congo, a strong return in the 12 nations championship awaits.

FULL SQUAD: Victor Bosire (captain), Eric Mutoro, Griffin Ligare, Eugene Adera, Ariel Ortega, Brian Shivachi, Derrick Ogechi, Victor Ochieng', Brandon Muchina, Faheem Juma, Fidel Okoth, Kenneth Wachira, Bush Wamukota.