NAIROBI (Kenya) - It is down to the Last Four in the nine-team WBLA Zone 5 Qualifiers with Rwandese sides APR and REG heading to the Semis unbeaten.
Meanwhile, hosts Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Burundi's Les Hippos, who dropped points for the first time, also advanced, the former making the Semis on a 3-1 run, the latter going 2-1.
Elsewhere, debutants Zetech Sparks of Kenya picked their first victory, Fox Divas taking the other win of the day, both finishing third in their respective groups.
Here's the day's action:
APR silence hosts KPA to top Group A
Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) reigning bronze medalist, APR, are through to the semis of the ongoing 2025 Zone 5 qualifiers unbeaten, having defeated home side Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 81-71.
Both sides came into the clash without blemishes, but the Rwandese recovered from a slow start to dominate the second half, denying Antony Ojukwu's side at home.
At a sold out Nyayo Gymnasium, the group A leaders traded blows with precision and determination, KPA shooting thrice from range in the opening six minutes to maintain a slight advantage (15-13) over the African bronze medalists.
The hosts went 9-2 in the remaining minutes to lead 24-17 after the opening 10 minutes.
Coach Charles Mushumba was forced into a timeout in the opening two minutes after KPA pushed the scores to 31-17, Kamba Yoro Diakite breaking the deadlock for 35-19, Destiney Philoxy getting the Rwandese over the 20-point mark from range.
However, momentum shifted as APR fought to come back to cut the deficit to 10 at 40-30 with two and a half minutes on the clock, Diakite and Philoxy leading the charge. Alima Doumbia, however, scored seven to restore KPA's double-digit advantage (44-33) heading to the halftime break.
"We were mentally prepared for whatever they would throw at us and we played as a unit, defended well and stayed focused even as they took the early lead. In the second half, we stuck to our game plan, and followed the coach's instructions. In the semis, we will bring the same energy and fighting spirit as we look to qualify," APR forward Diakite told FIBA.basketball.
APR came off the break guns blazing, quickly eating into KPA's lead to come within touching distance at 48-44, off an Italee Lucas trey. Yacine Diop made it a one-point game (48-47) from the charity stripe and it was KPA who needed to regroup.
APR took the lead at 52-51 but Ifunanya Okoro tied the game at 54 from behind the arc just as the hosts lost their centre player Aminata Ly to an injury. Philoxy opened the scoring with a trey to hand APR lead as the final stanza got underway, and the hosts were left chasing the match.
Diakite did all the work to hand APR a five-point cushion at 68-63, further extending their advantage to 74-66 with a minute to go, and there was no stopping the continental bronze medalists who went on to take the victory.
"It was a good game, I'm disappointed with the loss but happy with parts of the execution. In the third quarter, however, we committed unforced errors that I believe if we played our game we wouldn't have. That quarter came down to mental toughness. The players cracked and the timeouts did little to change the momentum. Despite the loss, we will pick ourselves up in the semis, play our game and fight for a place not only in the final but in the WBLA next month," offered KPA head coach Antony Ojukwu.
REG humble Les Hippos as both qualify for Semis
Rwanda Energy Group (REG), the reigning Zone 5 silver medalists head to the 2025 WBLA Qualifiers Semis with a clean card after beating Burundi's Les Hippos 67-56 in the final Group B clash.
Both sides were unbeaten heading to the group decider, having picked wins against Kenyan varsity side Zetech Sparks and Tanzania's Don Bosco Lioness.
The Rwandese champions' strategy for a quick start worked perfectly as they restricted the Burundians to just nine points in the opening quarter for a 24-9 advantage, despite the latter leading 8-7 in the opening three minutes. A similar script unfolded in the second period, Les Hippos suffering offensively but this time managing to contain REG in a 13-8 low scoring show.
The 20-point deficit proved to be Les Hippos undoing as they made adjustments in the second half, getting action off with a 6-1 run, Shauqunna Nicole Collins leading the comeback attempt in a 22-15 show with nine points.
Les Hippos remained hopeful in the final stanza, despite carrying a 13-point deficit, cutting it to eight at 54-36 with just over five minutes to play. However, REG switched gears, holding on for victory.
Zetech, Fox Divas end group action on a winning note
Kenya national silver medalist, Zetech Sparks got the better of rivals Don Bosco Lioness of Tanzania, in a game of two halves that ended with the Maurice Obilo-led varsity side picking an 84-62 victory.
Mary Lisa Omondi led the scoring for the host side with 22 points and eight rebounds, as Christine Akinyi added 15 points and seven rebounds to the victory.
Obilo's charges enjoyed a dominant start, finding their footing after a tense opening three minutes to take the opening 23-10 quarter. The Tanzania adjusted their defense in the second quarter, restricting the students to 15 points while scoring 12, to trail by 16 at halftime.
A 47-22 lead for the Kenyans in the opening six minutes of the second half ignited a fire for Obilo's charges pushing the scores for a 19-12 quarter. The final quarter was the most exciting for the two sides as Lioness kept fighting, despite having gone behind 23 points at the end of the third quarter. The Tanzanians took the quarter 28-27, bowing out heads held high.
Elsewhere, another Tanzanian side, Fox Divas, played for a 78-46 victory over Burundi's Gladiators Merycyana Mashauri leading with a 24-points and 12-rebound double-double.
Gladiators, who had put up a fight in the opening quarter to trail 19-15, crumbled in the second quarter for a frustrating 25-3 show. The damage was done, and not even a 15-12 third quarter could salvage their reputation, as they went on to lose the final stanza 22-13, outplayed by 32.
Three matches are schedule for each of the remaining two days with Magic Stomers the only side not in action, having finished fifth in Group A.
FIBA