Umoja show no mercy to UoN Terror to move into top three

**University of Nairobi Terror's Ziruel Gichana (left) and Gilbert Obiero of Umoja at UoN Grounds during a past KBF Premier league, on October 9, 2022.** [File, Standard]

Umoja Basketball Club beat the University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror 70-63 in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League match played at Nyayo Gymnasium on Saturday.

The victory saw Umoja, who are in fine form, register their eighth win of the season and increase their chances of finishing in the top four. They are now third on the table with 20 points, two more than former champions Ulinzi Warriors whom they pushed to fourth place. They have played 12 matches, won eight and lost four as they prepare for battle in the second leg of the regular season.

Kenya Morans point guard Victor Bosire starred for Umoja with 17 points, while Joel Ntambwe and Alex Ramani complemented his effort with 14 and 12 points respectively.

Terror’s Jacob Aleu sunk a match high 20 points but his effort was not good enough to save his side from their eighth defeat of the season. Rhyan Onyango also staged a good show scoring 15 points but just like Aleu watched helplessly as his side narrowly lost.

A good start would see Umoja take a seven-point lead by the break of the first quarter after dominating to score 25 points against Terror’s 18.

Terror put up a spirited fight to take the second period 18-15 and reduce the deficit to four points with the score at 40-36 at the breather.

On resumption, the third quarter was evenly contested, with both sides alternately scoring points for a level 16 points going into the final period. Umoja were stronger in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points, three more than the students, to carry the day.

In the Women’s Premier League title chase, Th3 Swish made it two wins out of two against Safe Spaces.

In an improved performance, Safe Spaces succumbed to a 43-65 defeat to Safe Spaces in their second leg encounter. The Swish had dismissed Safe Spaces 52-33 during their first leg tie last month.

Safe Spaces Sarah Aporo continued with her fine form, scoring an impressive 17 points even as her side failed to turn the tables against Th3 Swish.

Safe Spaces, who are new in the top tier, played well in the first three quarters, though Th3 Swish were without doubt the stronger side. Th3 Swish won the first quarter 14-10 before taking a 26-21 advantage at halftime.

Safe Spaces would keep fighting in the third period, but Th3 Swish were stronger, taking it 14-9 to extend their lead to 10 points going into the final quarter. They outplayed Safe Spaces sinking 25 points against 13 to chalk their fifth win of the season and consolidate their spot in the top eight.

Th3 Swish are now seventh on the table with 16 points from five wins and six losses while Safe Spaces are ninth with 14.