Kenya Ports Authority were crowned Kenya National Basketball League men champions after beating Equity Bank Dumas 68-56 in Play-off final Game Four at the Makande Welfare Hall Mombasa Sunday.
The Porters, who won the best of Five Game Series 3-1, trailed on an opener by James Mwangi. Martin Kitongo replied for a 2-all start.
Dumas went up 7-4 on Victor Ochieng's basket and KPA battled to lock the duel 10-10 before breaking off at 12-12 on a shot by Eugene Adera for an 18-14 half-quarter lead.
Dumas regained the lead in the second half after another 23-23 tie on a three-point play by Faheem Juma. His points saw the bankers take a 34-28 halftime cushion.
"After yesterday's win, I told my players it was not going to be easy. They responded by showing their mental toughness," noted KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu.
"I am elated. The ladies' team won yesterday (Saturday) unbeaten and now the men also won it after a very tough game. For them to do this, they displayed a lot of character."
KPA trailed 43-46 in the third quarter and took the fourth 25-10.
After resumption, KPA went up for good at 53-52 on a Martin Kitongo basket as the crowd roared. Eugene Adera who was named the MVP grabbed 23 points, Kitongo 12, and captain Job Byron grabbed 12.
"It was hard but we had to fight extra hard to win this one. It means a lot to me. I will cherish this forever," Offered Byron.
For the bankers, sharp-shooting Juma who posed all sorts of problems, nailed 17 points and Mwangi registered another 10.
"We had closed them down despite all that happened in the course of the game. But we lost it all on lack of concentration," said bankers' coach Carey Oketch.
KPA had 20 points from Lennox Wanje and 14 from Adera as they drubbed Equity Bank 68-44 in Game Three the previous day.
Victor Bosire and Titus Musembi managed 10 points for the bankers who trailed 33-17 at the break and 49-29 in the last stanza.
The women also retained their title with a 68-44 victory over Zetech University Sparks who did well to lead at the break.
In Nairobi, Thunder had 24 points from Thomas Kioko, 22 from Griffin Ligare, and 15 from Jack Agunda as they beat Ulinzi 81-71 to finish third.
United States International University ((USIU) Tigers won the men Division One beating Strathmore University 64-61.
USIU Flames bagged the women's Division One title by defeating Zetech University Development side 50-46
