KEN - KCB Lions and Kenya Ports crowned Kenyan champions

NAIROBI (Play-off finals) - The Kenya national titlerace that got off in April finally ended with Kenya Commercial Bank of Kenya (KCB) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) claiming the 2007 men and women's titles.

The two giants completed a 2-0 series sweep over Co-operative Bank of Kenya and United States International University (USIU) in the finals that ended at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium late in the night.

In Game Two matches KCB stamped their authority early in this decider tearing their rivals apart and taking their second crown since 2001 by winning 62-52.

KPA on the other hand nipped USIU's sterling efforts in the bud hitting the students 63-53 to carry the diadem to Mombasa after sadly losing out to Telkom the previors year.

In Game One of the final series, KCB beat beat Co-op Bank 60- 49 while the dock women registered a convincing 77-55 win over Flames of the USIU in Mombasa.

Only the lower division finals went the full distance as KPA men's side rocked Telkom 76-57 in Game One played in Mombasa, lost a cracking Game Two 75-72 in over time before throwing in the towel 78-70 in the decider.

Lions dismissed USIU 2-0 in the semi finals while Co-op had to use every trick in the book to shut out University of Nairobi "Terrorists" 2-1. KPA went past a stubborn Eagle Wings 2-0 while USIU shocked Sprite Storms 2-1.

It was an indifferent year as no defending champions stood to defend their crowns following the disbanding of Ulinzi Warriors and Telkom. But it was a fiercly contested fight all the way to the wire.

KPA and Telkom will move over to the Premier as will Strthmore Universitywomen's side that won the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) title beating Predators 2-1. Posta and World Hope also moved up from the provincial league.

KCB Lions guard Tobias Onyango was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the 2007 season.

Onyango led KCB to a 2-0 sweep over rivals Co-operative Bank of Kenya in the best of three series finals that ended at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium last weekend.

"He is a terrific ball player. A quiet and tireless performer who has led the team so well over the years. He deserves the accolade as he has shown for the two years he has been at my club." said his coach Francis Ngunjiri.

United States International University (USIU) brash forward Angela Okoth bagged the women's honours in a year that also saw the uncompromising player get her firs cvap for the nationalside. Okoth made the Kenya team to Africa Championships in Dakar, Senegal in September.

USIU fell 2-1 to KPA in the women's finals and it was the first time a player from the losing side was named the year's best player.

The lower division award was wom by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)'s Miceky Wana.

Dann O'WERE
FIBA