Beaten Kenya rue lack of game time

Kenya national men’s basketball team coach Cliff Owuor believes his squad can make it to top 10 in Africa by the end of next year, as long as they are guaranteed quality friendly matches and exposure.

Owuor hopes the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) will be able to secure sponsorship and organize tours as his team prepares for next year’s African Games qualifiers.

Kenya is currently ranked 22nd in Africa.

Owuor was speaking on Tuesday night after his team put up a spirited battle before going down to Cameroon 61-46 in an international friendly match at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kenya will take on Uganda in another friendly Friday night, once again at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kenya, who trailed 33-20 at half-time after lagging behind 14-7 and 19-13 in the first and second quarters, respectively, showed great improvement in the last two quarters.

They fell behind by just one point in each of the two quarters 15-14 and 13-12 to succumb to the more superior and physically endowed Cameroon who are preparing for the last phase of the 2019 World Championships Africa qualifiers in Luanda, Angola.

“It wasn’t an easy game considering that Cameroon have been competing outside Africa ahead of the qualifiers,” said Owuor, adding that he was impressed by his team’s show against a team that is ranked seventh in Africa.

“This is work in progress and I hope we shall be ready before the Africa Games qualifiers. I want the team to scale to top 10 position in Africa by the end of next year,” said Owuor.

Cameroon deputy coach Bouwe Gilles commended Kenya for a great show but advised them to refine on their scoring skills.

“They need to work on their last ball. They missed even without under pressure,” said Gilles.

Frank Tchoubaye was the highest scorer for the visitors with 13 points that included four three-pointers.

Felix Bogmis contributed 11 points that comprised three three-pointers for Cameroon while Valentine Nyarwa top-scored with 15 points for Kenya with Desmond Owili contributing 12.

The Luanda championship has the hosts Angola, Egypt, Senegal, Central Africa Republic and Cote d’Ivoire, who failed to qualify from the first phase, battling for the last place at the World Championship.

Tunisia and Nigeria won the respective groups of the first phase to sail through to the World Championship that will take place from August 31 to September 15 in China.

It’s after the World Championship that the African teams will turn their focus on the African Games planned for October 14-21 in Casablanca, Morocco.