Munyoki elated as Equity seal first win

Equity Bank Dumas coach Isaac Munyoki is a happy man following his team’s first Kenya National Basketball League win at the Nyayo Stadium gymnasium.

However, Munyoki remains concerned with the team's ability to close out games despite a 70-60 win over Strathmore.

He said the win was a much-needed tonic for the bankers, who fell to champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in last year’s title race.

“Yes, we needed this win,” noted Munyoki. "However, we have a lot to work on, especially on closing out games. We have to build on this win.”

Dumas started their season with a shock 65-62 defeat to Umoja and a few days later, crushed to a 66-59 loss to newly-promoted United States International University (USIU) Tigers.

Munyoki said they are still rebuilding after losing some key players but admitted the task is not easy since every team in the league is getting better.

National team captain Victor Bosire led Dumas by example, sinking 20 points while Bobby Onyango notched 14. Blades' Bol Daniel responded with game-high 21 points for the students.

“We started off 23-08 down. We did not react to our opponent's swiftness but the boys did well in the second half. We now need to work extra hard to regain our winning formula,” said Blades' coach Tony Ochieng.

Meanwhile, University of Nairobi coach Eugene Genga said he is working towards making the varsity sides title contenders. He, however, observed that this will take a few years.

“We have a plan. It will take a few years but hopefully, if it works, we will not have to go through this process again,” said Genga.

Terrorists thrashed Absa 76-51 as Zurel Brian notched 22 points after grabbing the team’s opening eight points. Dynamites, on the other hand, lost 42-23 to Africa Nazarene University Panthers.

He said Dynamites are learning each day as they bank on a few good talents in the team and whom he has vowed to develop.

Building Premier League teams in university is a tough task since once the players graduate, they leave and the process has to be started from scratch, again.

“We have a number of final-year students in the men's team even though we have a bunch of rookies whom we will develop to replace the outgoing players,” Genga noted.