KPA rally late to beat Equity and take 2-0 semifinal lead

• The Dockers fought back from an early 10-point deficit before producing a decisive fourth-quarter surge to secure a second straight win and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

KPA basketball team

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) moved to within one win of the Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League final after beating Equity Bank 102-87 in Game 2 of their semifinal series at the Nyayo Gymnasium on Thursday.

The Dockers fought back from an early 10-point deficit before producing a decisive fourth-quarter surge to secure a second straight win and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Equity started strongly, with Benjamin Muga and Davis Siaji causing problems for the KPA defence.

Siaji repeatedly found his range from beyond the arc, while Muga attacked the basket and also connected from outside as the Bankers edged a closely contested opening quarter 23-22.

Equity carried their momentum into the second quarter and briefly opened a 10-point advantage, but KPA responded with a strong fightback.

The Dockers outscored Equity 26-25 in the period to level the game at 48-48 heading into halftime.

KPA then edged the third quarter 23-19 to take a narrow 71-67 lead into the final period, but Equity remained firmly in contention.

The Bankers stayed within touching distance for the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter before KPA took complete control of the game.

Lennox Wanje sparked the decisive run with three consecutive three-pointers, stretching the Dockers’ advantage and putting Equity under increasing pressure.

Charly Jason Kesseng played an important supporting role, setting screens to create space for Wanje’s shots while also cleaning up the boards and providing KPA with crucial second-chance opportunities.

The Dockers finished strongly, outscoring Equity 31-20 in the fourth quarter to seal the 15-point victory.

KPA head coach Robert Mugabe said his side had identified Muga and Siaghi as major threats but remained patient as the game progressed.

“During the timeout, we were mostly talking about covering Benjamin Muga and Siaghi. They were taking good shots and we had failed to stop them,” Mugabe said.

He said KPA eventually noticed Equity tiring in the closing stages.

“In the last five or six minutes, they started getting tired. When we got two runs, it was over for them because they didn’t have the energy to defend.”

Mugabe credited his players for sticking to their system despite Equity’s resistance.

“I kept telling them to stick to what we believe in and run our system, and the game would come to us. Finally, they did and we got the win.”

KPA now return to Mombasa with a 2-0 advantage and the opportunity to close out the series in front of their home fans.

Mugabe, however, said the team would not take the next game lightly.

“We’re going back to Mombasa, so everything is on our side. The fans are also on our side. But before that, we’re still going to prepare again, have a video review and see what we need to do.”

Jshin Brownlee, another key figure for KPA across the opening two games, said winning both games on the road was exactly what the Dockers had targeted.

“We wanted to come get two on the road, and we did,” Brownlee said.

He also pointed to the importance of the Mombasa crowd ahead of the next game.

“The crowd plays a big part in that. I’m a fan favourite and I love the crowd, so I kind of play for them and my team.”

Equity’s coach, Joseph Lubarov acknowledged that his side had produced a much-improved display compared with Game 1, remaining competitive for most of the contest.

“For 35 or 36 minutes, we were neck and neck. We were executing, hitting shots and following the game plan very well. It was night and day compared to yesterday,” he said.

But he admitted KPA’s late shooting proved decisive.

“They made their shots, and then they just started raining. Of course, KPA couldn’t miss.”

With Equity now 2-0 down, the Bankers face a must-win situation in the next game, while KPA need just one more victory to book their place in the final.