NAIROBI (Kenya) - The Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium was set as the East Africa Basketball Championship Cup (EABCC) Zone 5 got underway on Tuesday at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
Here's a review of the opening day's actions:
Remesha blank ABC in tight tourney opener
Burundi's Remesha beat ABC of Tanzania 84-75 as this opening tie. It was ABC of Tanzania who won the tip but Burundi's Remesha registered the game's opening basket through Landry Ndikumana.
Elias Samuel of ABC then cancelled that effort out and the Tanzanians went on to take a 21-20 advantage in a tight first stanza.
The second quarter battle was also a close one as it went back and forth before Remesha broke off a 43-42 margin to take a 45-42 lead at the break.
Remesha then built a strong 19-point cushion in the third quarter with the scores reading 70-51, but ABC cut it down to 15 points and they went in to trail 70-55 as the whistle sounded.
With 4:02 gone in the deciding quarter, a baseline jumper by Arnido Carlos saw the scores swell to 76-56 in favour of Remesha and it was over.
Veteran Ndikumana led Ramesha scoring tally with 20 points, Gilbert Nijimbere sunk 18 and Napoleon Abikunze had 15.
For ABC, Omany Nduka led all scorers with 22, Jonas Nishi buried 16 and Captain Enerico Augustino 15.
"First matches are always hard. I must look at the team chemistry by rotating my players. But going forward, we'll be better," said Remesha coach Robert Mugabe.
Dar City heat too much for home boys Dumas
Former NBA star Hasheem Thabeet anchored Dar City, scoring his team's 10 points in the first quarter as they went in to upset Equity Bank Dumas 83-63.
They built a 14 point cushion in the second before Dumas reduced it to 32-21. But when the half time horn sounded, Dar was ahead 37-32.
Dumas closed in to two points, 46-44 in the third quarter but again out their feet off the gas and saw the Tanzanians roll away to a 58-50 scoreline.
Dar refused to be cowed pulling away anytime the bankers clawed back. With 2:36 to play a basket by Thabeet had the scores 77-59.
Nathaniel Browniee buried game high 29 points as Thabbeet added 20 and Amin Mose 10. For the losers, Davies Siaji made 16 and Kennedy Ogeno 12.
"I have trained this team for only one week so our tactics was simple. Get the rebound and start a transition and open up." Said Dar coach Henry Mwinuka.
Dumas coach Sylvia Kamau offered," We missed our key players in this championship, but we will play with those available. Hopefully, we will pick up."
KPA fight back to cage Les Hippos
The Dockers got this tie off to a shaky start as they struggled for grip before changing gears to win the tie 76-63. They were down 13-7 in a cagey first quarter.
Rhinos then charged away building a 13 points cushion with the scores at 19-7 before KPA had even scored a point.
But the tide changed as Salim Kisilu and Washington Ayiecho started to exert pressure. KPA clawed back to trail 28-27 as the second ended.
In the third, with play maker Lennox Wanje back to his best the former Kenya national champions staged a gritty fight back going up 52-32 to end the third.
The fourth quarter saw KPA build a 14 points margin at 73-55 on back to back three with 1:34 left to play as Hippos lost their rhythm.
Kisilu picked up 21 points, center Morelle Lenguewane had 17 points and pulled down 14 boards while Ayiecho made 11.
For the losers Mamadou Dioume grabbed 19 points, Ben venue Richard hit 14 while Romis Bujeje scored 10.
"We started slow in the first two quarters but tactical changes made by our coach saw us win convincingly." said the towing Lenguewane.
FIBA