NAIROBI (Kenya) - Dar City and Burundi's Ramesha made it two wins as the inaugural East Africa Basketball Championship Cup (EABCC) entered Day 2 at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium Wednesday.
Here's a recap of Wednesday's events:
Dar put up a show to win thriller in OT
Nathaniel Brownlee tallied 30 points as he guided Dar City to a 69-65 win over Kenya Ports Authority.
After Hasheem Thabeet had sent the game into over-time with a three-point play, Brownie crowned it with two foul shots and a run away rim roasting dunk.
Thabeet, who scored 17 points, got Dar City rolling when he buried a three-pointer and the Tanzanians went on to take a 11-9 cushion in the first quarter.
KPA locked the duel 15-15 and 17-17 in the third quarter, but a Thabeet three saw Dar away 26-19 at the break. Brownlee sunk 13 points.
With the crowd behind them, KPA struggled for grip as Thabeet spun inside to give Dar a 37-32 edge.
Brian Eleman fast break gave the Dockers a hard fought 40-39 advantage as time expired in a furiously contested affair.
A determined Dar posed all sorts of problems for the former Kenyan champions leading 48-47 with 3:24 to play as Thabeet took a breather.
They closed in 54-51 before a three-point play by Thabeet locked it 54-54 with 0:08 left on the clock.
No side scored as time expired and an extra five minute was needed to break the deadlock. KPA locked 61-61 and 63-63.
With 0:11 left Brownie made it 67-65 from the line. KPA called a time out but they lost possession and drove all the way for a slam.
"It was a hard game. I believe in myself and he team believes in me . My coach told me to calm down and this is what paid off. It was a hard game and we did just enough to win it." Offered Brownie.
KPA had 13 points a piece from Washington Ayiecho and David Yamo while Enock Odondo shot 12.
KPA hard coach Cliff Owuor hailed his young side for putting up a fight but decried inability to close the game.out.
"We had the chances to win but we lacked a playmaker who could handle the situation. We will see how other matches go," Owuor quipped.
Ramesha too strong for compatriots Les Hippos
After an opening exchanges, it was an easy glide for Remesha as they clubbed compatriots 76-55 for their second victory in a row.
The winners took a 22-16 first quarter advantage before things changed dramatically in the second where they trailed by 20 points.
Hippos went on a long offensive draught and only managed to score two early foul shots by their danger man Mamadou Dioume.
"Every match is a final for us. We know each other so well from our local league. We also trained well for one month for the event." Said Remesha captain Paulin-Gauthier Jimbere
Landry Ndikumana scored 16 points, Napoleon Abikunze had 14 and Guibert Nijimbere shot 13 for Remesha.
The losers, who trailed by as much as 34 points, were led by Dioume who registered 19 while Clement Karabina bagged another 17.
Hippos coach Arsene Mfuranzima noted. "Most of my players are playing together for the first time. We lacked team chemistry to bother them on offense."
The losers leading scorers were Dioume who registered 19 points.
FIBA