MOZ - Impressive KPA lose to Desportivo 54-45

MAPUTO (13th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women) - Playing their best game ever in the competition Kenya Ports Authority Friday put up a big fight against Desportivo basketball club of Mozambique in the first quarter-final match of the 13th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women at the Maxaquene gymnasium, Maputo, though they lost the match but the Kenyan held their own against all expectation.

The Kenyan lost the first quarter 12-10 but came back strongly to pick the second quarter 14-07 points to take a first half lead of 21-19 points.

They however, crumbled in the third and fourth quarters (17-12 and 18-09) with Senegalse Desportivo import, Salimata Diatta playing an important role in her side win with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals.

Diara Dessai added 14 points, 4 assits and 3 rebounds to help the Maputo-based side book a semi-finals ticket.

Unlucky A.B.C bow to Agosto 68-60

Fatouma Camara's 22 points was not enough to save Abidjan Basket Club (A.B.C) from defeat Friday in the hands of defending champion, Primero Agosto of Angola in the second quarter-final match of the 13th Champions Cup for Women.

The defending champion had raced to a 21-17 and 19-13 points win in the first and second quarters to end the first stanza of the highly technical encounter at 40-30 taking a ten points lead into the third quarter.

The Coach Benga Lemore tutored ABC side rose to the ocassion and make an impressive impact to win the third quarter 14-06 before allowing the Angolan to come alive in the last quarter with a valuable win of 22-16 points.

Agosto forward Nacissela Mauricio led her teammates with a double double of 19 points 11 rebounds and 2 steals, Barbara Guimaràes added 14 points while Maria Afonso contributed 10 points to wade off the stife opposition of the Ivorian.

With the victory over A.B.C, Agosto is now through to the semi-finals which will be decided on Saturday at the Maxaquene gymnasium, Maputo.

First Bank go down fighting, lost 71-66 to Ferroviario

Nigeria champion, First Bank basketball club Friday bow out of the final round of the 13th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women losing 71-66 points to host and 2006 runner-up, Ferroviario basketball club of Maputo.

The host was clearly ahead in the first three quarters (28-24, 19-12 and 13-12) to go into the last quarter with 12 points advantage over their Nigeria opponent with the score-line reading 60-48 points in their favour.

Efforts by the Adewumi Aderemi Coached Nigerian side fought back gallantly in the last quarter to even scores proved abortive, though the Nigeria champion and 2003 winner of the Champions Cup won the quarter 18-11, the effort was not good enough to seal victory for them as the host carry the day.

Carla Silva led her side in scoring with 21 points and 4 steals, Deolinda Gimo recorded 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while Rute Muianga added 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and one block-shot to move her team into the semi-finals.

First Bank and Nigeria forward, Chioma Udeaja led the floor with a double double figure of 28 points and 13 rebounds, with centre Ugochukwu Oha also recording double double figure of 15 rebounds and 11 points.

I.S.P.U through to last four, beat Djoliba 65-51

Instituto Superior Politéchnica (I.S.P.U) basketball club of Maputo Friday night book the last semi-finals ticket at the expense of Djoliba basketball club of Mali making it an all FIBA Africa Zone-6 affairs.

The Mozambican side did not pretend as to her intention to carry the day handling out a 21-11 points win over the Malinan, it however lost the second quarter 16-13 for a halftime scores of 34-27 points.

The Coach Alexandre Mata tutored side went on to pick the third quarter 20-13 but eveb scores with the Malian in the fourth quarter which ended 11 points apiece for a cummulative score-line of 65-51.

The duo of Tania Wachene and Amélia Rachide scored 12 points each for the Maputo-based team while Ana Branquinho added 11 points, Djoliba Aminata Sinita and Ndeye Dior Mbengue scored 12 and 11 points respectively.

Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA