This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On Saturday, Equity Bank, the defending champions of the Kenya Basketball League, took a significant step towards retaining their title by defeating UON Dynamites 60-32 in Game One of the semi-final playoffs series at Nyayo Gymnasium.
The team's strong performance was evident in all four quarters, with wins of 10-5, 17-8, 15-8, and 18-11 in the first, second, third, and fourth quarters, respectively.
Belinda Okoth led the team with 16 points, followed by Rita Aluoch with 11 points, and Shalon Gaceri with 10 points for UoN.
The two teams will face off again on Sunday at the same venue in Game Two, with the series concluding next weekend.
Despite their win, Equity Bank's head coach, David Maina, expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, citing the need for improvement in ball possession.
Meanwhile, former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) also advanced to the league final by defeating Storms 82-52 in Game One of the semi-finals at the same venue.
KPA's head coach, Mike Opel, praised the team's performance, highlighting their strong defense and intensity. However, the team's captain, Brenda Angeshi, cautioned against celebrating too early, emphasizing the importance of taking each game at a time.
The likely matchup between Equity Bank and KPA in the final would be a repeat of last season's battle.
