Kenya’s Morans lose against Angola in AfroBasket Qualifiers
Kenya’s Morans mission to Ivory Coast for the AfroBasket Championships this August suffered a jolt Friday night following a heavy 88-59 loss to Angola in a pool E Clash in Tripoli, Libya in the qualifiers.
Kenya who only arrived a day after the event began, already handed a walkover and 20 points to already qualified Tunisia on Thursday.
In what now seems a complicated calculation, Kenya would be hoping for a playoff spot if they wallop Guinea in the last clash of the group and Angola collapse against Tunisia.
The latter two have already qualified for the showpiece in Abidjan later in the year.
Cliff Owuor’s charges made tons of turnovers thus costing them the match with only Fidel Okoth standing out with 13 points, 3 rebounds and two blocks. Incidentally, it was the Morans that started off the brighter spark with good interplay as they ran the court with a deserved 25-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The surge of the Kenyans briefly faded in the second quarter despite holding a 33-29 advantage albeit for a short period.
The multiple African champions on the other hand responded with an 11-00 run before Kenya managed to get back on the scoreboard, narrowing the deficit to 40-35.
Angola to dictate the pace of the game, shutting off the half with another 10 unanswered points to lead 50-35 at the break.
After the break, Morans and Angola treaded points matching each other across the court in what was a massive tactical improvement by Coach Owuor’s men.
However, it was the Angolans who took initiative burying the important points and in the process taking a deserved 65-50 lead in the third quarter. All these, despite good play from the likes of Albert Odero and Tyler Ongwae who had flashes of brilliance with their buckets and passing.
In the fourth quarter, Kenya struggled to keep up the tempo, managing just nine points as Angola surged ahead to seal an emphatic win.
Blacio Owili added nine points, three rebounds, and one assist, with Derrick Ogechi finishing with eight points, three rebounds, and one assist.
Victor Bosire had three points, three rebounds, and one assist. Eugene Adera was impactful off the bench with nine points, four rebounds, and five assists to his credit.
Kenya must now defeat Guinea to secure qualification for the tournament in the do or die contest. Guinea is no pushovers having already beaten Angola in the same tournament 66-65 two days ago.
However, Morans have beaten Guinea earlier in Tunisia with 80-74 scoreline in Tunisia earlier this month in the second round of the qualifiers.
