Junior NBA Kenya League Attracts 30 Teams

NAIROBI, Kenya- Far East Basketball Association (FEBA) Bulls   from Embakasi thrashed Diwopa 76ers from Kayole 39-8 as the second edition of Junior National Basketball Association (Jr.NBA) Kenya League served off at Brookhouse School in Nairobi on Saturday.

David Baraka scored a game high 10 points for the winners as Bruno Muchoki notched eight for the losers.

Little Prince also got off to a winning start by beating Blazers 23-9.Edwin Okwach spearheaded the victors with seven points.

The new season has attracted 30 Primary Schools in Nairobi. The league, to run for one month, mirrors the US’s NBA structure with the teams divided into Eastern and Western conferences with the top eight from each side qualifying for the playoffs.

This year’s finals will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium on September 29, 2018. Last year’s finals ,held at African Nazarene University, was  graced by former five times World Cross Country Champion Paul Tergat, two times NBA winner and Golden State Warriors power forward ,James Michael McAdoo ,and NBA Africa Vice President, Amadou Gallo.

Slums Dunk Nets from Mathare were declared champions after beating Family Kenya Warriors 37-16 with Lovings Otieno, who scored a game-high ten points for the winners, bagging the Most Valuable Player award.

The winners had a 26-7 halftime lead. They commanded all the quarters, which they won 16-5, 10-1, 14-0, 7-9.

 “We knew that if we played a fast paced game we would win, and it started by strengthening our defence to give the opponents no room for scoring,” Slums Dunk Nets coach Sylvester Ndindi underlined after the sweet game.

“They (Warriors) didn’t have a very good point guard. The moment he crossed into our half, we were on him and cleverly anticipated where he would pass the ball and within a short time we were already above ten points,” Ndindi underscored.

Work ethics

Ndindi , who had special praise for Otieno who he credited for his work ethic and commitment to the sport, reiterated that discipline, commitment, and dedication to training was their secret to lifting the inaugural edition.

 “Otieno is incredible. He is a hardworking boy and does not miss training. Even when he is alone on the court he still does the same drills that he was taught days before,” Ndindi highlighted.

McAdoo and Gallo advised the players to establish a strong work ethics and dedicate themselves to the game if they want their dream of playing in the American NBA to be realized.