Kenya Ports Authority end Ferroviario de Maputo unbeaten run

KIGALI (Rwanda) - Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) announced their arrival in Kigali with a 79-67 victory over Ferroviario de Maputo on Thursday in the Basketball Africa League Qualifiers to start their campaign on a high note. 

Point guard Faisal Aden put up a man-of-the-match performance scoring 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals to guide the Mombasa side to their first victory at the Group H competition in the Rwandan capital. 

KPA led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter but Ferroviario who were without their star player Alvaro Calvo Masa came back strong to tie the game at 34-up at half time much to the excitement of the Rwandan fans who were impressed with KPA's style. 

“WE PLAYED TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND THAT REALLY HELPED US TO WIN. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THE PAST DAYS TRAVELING BY ROAD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS BUT WE CAME AND GAVE EVERYTHING TODAY. WE SHOWED CHARACTER”- Ojukwu

KPA went on a 13-point scoring run to take a 53-40 in the third quarter and this double digit lead gave the Kenyan side the confidence to match whatever questions Ferroviario de Maputo were asking. 

Michael Kazunguzibwa and Okall Koranga added 16 and 14 points in that order for KPA as they cruised to victory to end Ferroviario's seven-game unbeaten run in the BAL Qualifiers.

KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu told FIBA.basketball that, "We played together as a team and that really helped us to win. We have been through a lot in the past days traveling by road for more than 24 hours but we came and gave everything today. We showed character today and I am very proud of the boys." 

Ermelindo Novela was the only Ferroviario player who scored double digits with 16 points while Heltn Ubisse picked an impressive 12 rebounds and added seven points but their efforts were not enough to save Ferroviario's unbeaten streak. 

 Ferroviario de Maputo nevertheless finish top of Group B. 

FIBA