FIBA Basketball

    Who tops the AWBL Zone 5 Qualifiers ahead of knock-out stage?

    After four days of action, wheat has been separated from chaff with group-stage matches at the ongoing Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) Zone Five set to conclude on Wednesday, November 1.

     

    KIGALI (Rwanda) - After four days of action, wheat has been separated from chaff with group-stage matches at the ongoing Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) Zone Five set to conclude on Wednesday, November 1. 

    In group A, Kenya's Equity Bank Hawks and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club (APR) clash in the final group match to decide who tops the group as Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) look to complete their unbeaten run to top group B. 

    Second win for Equity to set up crunch clash against APR 

    Equity, who won their opening match 98-66 against Tanzanian champions Vijana Queens, played for a 77-45 victory against Burundi's Gladiators on Tuesday. 

    The Benson Oluoch-coached bankers had an arguably slow start, going 10-6 ahead in the opening five minutes, but found themselves chasing the game in the second part of the quarter, after allowing a seven-point scoring streak for Galdiaotors. The Kenyan side levelled the score at 16 points at the conclusion of the period. 

    In the match that witnessed nine lead changes and the two sides tied on four occasions, Equity seemed to have found their rhythm in the second period, running the scores against Gladiators for a 21-10 outcome that gave them an 11-point cushion going into the break. 

    Action in the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with the Burundi side maintaining a tight grip on the action defensively in the third quarter for a 13-9 outcome in favour of the Kenyans, only to seemingly crumble in the final stanza for 27-10 and the 32-point loss. 

    Grace Malu, playing for just over 27 minutes managed 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, combining with Christine Akinyi (16), Betty Kananu (13) and Melissa Otieno (10) for the day's double-digit scorers in the win. Vallary Kemunto pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the stats. 

    Kamba Diakite scored 19 to emerge as Gladiators' top scorer but hurt her productivity after giving away the ball 11 times. Sonia Dasylva dropped 13 points and 9 rebounds in the loss. 

    Gladiators turned the ball over 31 times, Equity scoring 29 points from that, but led the numbers in fast break points with 11 against 8. 

    Unstoppable KPA maintain unbeaten run 

    Antony Ojukwu's KPA play Nile Legends in their final group clash and, if past matches are anything to go by, the Kenyan champions are favourites. 

    In their third match of the competition played on Tuesday, against hosts Rwanda Energy Group (REG), the dockers tied on 13 points in the first quarter but were more clinical in the other three quarters going 19-06, 17-16 and 23-07 for a 72-42 victory. 

    KPA, who lost the Zone Five title to Alexandria Sporting of Egypt last year and are looking to reclaim their title and book a ticket to the AWBL, had Madina Okot pushing their numbers in the 35.27 minutes she played, dropping 19 points and a similar number of rebounds in the win. 

    Victoria Reynolds gave a good account of herself, contributing a game and team-high 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and four steals while Morgan Greene added 10 points to the tally. 

    APR survive Vijana Queens scare 

    A final quarter brilliant show from APR made all the difference as they managed to defeat Tanzania champions Vijana Queens 67-57 to maintain hopes of topping group A when they play Equity on Wednesday.

    In a closely contested encounter, APR raced to a 18-17 lead in the first quarter but the Tanzanian side fought relentlessly to lead by a single point in a 31-30 scoreline heading to the break. 

    The 10 lead changes and 5 ties clear indicators of the see-saw the match was, APR went 15-13 ahead in the third quarter to lead 45-44 heading to the final period. A 22-13 outcome gave the Rwandese side the win.

    Odile Tetero, Jane Jackson and Janai Robertson scored 17, 14 and 10 points respectively but it was Assouma Uwizeye who called the shots defensively dominating with 19 rebounds and 10 points for the only double-double on her side. 

    Vijana Queens' charge was led by Noela Uwandameno who had a game-high 23 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Tumaini Ndosi dropped a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds to keep her side in contention but it was not enough to hand them victory. 

    Nakayingi stars as JKL bounce back 

    Evelyne Nakayingi scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and as many assists as her side JKL Lady Dolphins rose from their loss to KPA to register an 89-41 win over Tanzania's Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT).  The latter remains winless heading to the final group matches. 

    Wednesday fixtures: 
    Noon- Nile Legends (SSD) vs K.P.A (KEN) 
    3.00 p.m - Vijana Queens vs Gladiators (BDI) 
    6.00 p.m - A.P.R (RWA) vs Equity Bank (KEN)
    9.00 p.m - J.K.L (UGA) vs REG (RWA)

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