NAIROBI (Kenya) - The FIBA East Africa Basketball Championship Cup (EABCC) has entered its fourth day, and we bring a daily recap.
Rampant Hippos hand Dumas third loss in a row
Equity Bank suffered another defeat when they went down 70-51 to Les Hippos of Burundi.
Hippos went up 3-0 after an opening foul shot by Mamadou Dioume. Despite bankers’ effort, they went on to take a 15-8 first quarter edge.
Dumas then scored five points in a row as Hippos failed to hit the target as the second quarter started and managed to draw close 15-13.
Both teams struggled offensively and ended up committing a total of 25 turn overs. Dumas had 15 and Hippos, who led 26-19 at the breather.
Hippos roared in the third building a 10-point cushion at 41-31 on a Clement Karabona drive. The went on to lead 54-38 as the stanza ended.
A three-pointer by Romis Bujeje with 7:07 minutes on the clock in the last quarter gave the rampant Hippos a runaway 61-39 margin.
"We are getting better as the tournament grows. We hurried in the first half as we were hungry for a win and ended up committing many turn overs instead." said coach Arsene Mfuranzima.
He went on, saying: "But in the second half, we were a bit more composed, and the game became a lot easier to handle"
Karabona tallied 18 points and Bujeje scored another 14 for the Burundian side who rolled up a comfortable lead.
The bankers, who trailed 68-48 with 2:54 minutes to play, were led by Alex Makau who notched 16, Davis Siaji bagged 13 and Captain Lenson Kisia made 10.
"The tournament is hard. We played good defense in the first half but also gave out too many turn overs. Inexperience is also costing us as we have many new players in the team." Said Kisia.
"We are also trying to do alot of different things but nothings is working. We are not competitive enough, but we hope to execute better in our coming games."
ABC winless run continues as they fall to Dar
ABC fell for the third time in the championship going down 66-58 to compatriots Dar City in a hard-fought encounter.
The winners took the first quarter with a well taken 22-13 cushion. But the tide was turned in the second as it was time for ABC to lead 18-14.
The second belonged to ABC who cut a 22-10 edge to trail 36-31 at the break.
Jonas Oberlin provided the spark picking up 13 points in the half.
The losers clawed back in the third and fourth with close 14-12 and 16-15 and even took a 51-50 lead midway through the period.
But Dar wipped out that margin immediately and went ahead 65-54 on a slam by Nathaniel Brownlee to post their third victory.
"It was a hard-fought game. We know them well having beaten them at home. It's been difficult as we have been playing every day without a rest." Offered Hasheem..
"We came here to compete not to underestimate anyone. Tomorrow, we have an important game."
Anthony Ulrich scored 15 points. Stanley Munguja hit 14 and Browniee 12. For ABC, Obalin posted 22 and Omany Nduka shot 14.
FIBA