- KPA are through to the final qualification round
- They finished second after losing to COSPN in Madagascar
- The second round will involve 16 team
National champions Kenya Ports Authority have progressed to the ‘Elite 16’, the second round of qualification for the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) despite losing their second match to home side Club Omnisport de La Police Nationale (COSPN).
The dockers lost to the home side 60-66, but progressed having started their campaign with a 120-37 thrashing of Comoros side Djabal in the three-team Group D.
KPA and COSPN will both be in Pool Two of the Elite 16 which will be played in Cape Town, South Africa between November 22-27.
South Sudan’s Cobra Sport, Ferroviario de Beira of Mozambique and hosts Cape Town Tigers are the other teams in the Pool and will be joined by two others from Group C whose qualification matches are scheduled for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Punished for minor mistakes
Against hosts COSPN, KPA had hoped to rake in all three points and conclude the trip to Madagascar on a 100pc record, but they were punished for minor mistakes.
Livio Ratianarivo hit a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds for the home side with Orlando Rahajaniaina earning a game high 15 points and Elly Randriamampionona sinking 14 to add on to the haul.
KPA paid the ultimate price for a poor second half, having enjoyed an eight-point lead, going to the half time break 32-24 ahead.
They allowed too many turnovers and were not clean on the boards, with COSPN pushed by their home fans to take advantage.
“I think we didn’t make many positive decisions in the match and that is why we lost. We were a bit let down on the defense but the good thing is that we have picked our lessons. We will need to strengthen a few areas to ensure we are ready for the Elite 16 which is a stronger stage,” said head coach Sammy Kiki.
Two former players join KPA
For the tournament, KPA had seen their two former players Ken Wachira and Ariel Okall join them after completing their season long contracts with Ugandan side Namuwongo Blazers, which they helped reach the final of the play-offs in the Ugandan Basketball League.
Coach Kiki said the two showed their prowess and added some huge advantage to the team and now hopes they will be available for the Elite 16.
The 16 qualified teams will be divided into two groups, with the top three qualifying for the final tournament of the Basketball Africa League, to be staged next year in Kigali.
The BAL is the equivalent of the Champions League in football and it brings together the best teams from around the continent for a single tournament, and it is sponsored by the world governing body FIBA and the NBA.
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