WBLA: A blow by blow account of how APR upstaged KPA in thrilling comeback win

 It was a game of two halves—one blazing with Kenyan brilliance, the other dominated by Rwandan resilience. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) looked set for a statement win at the Nyayo National Stadium, but Rwanda’s APR Women BBC unleashed a second-half storm to snatch an 81–71 comeback victory and top Group A of the Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) qualifiers.

From the opening tip, KPA came out like a team on a mission. Ifunanya Okoro orchestrated the tempo with surgical precision, Aminata Ly towered in the paint, and Mercy Wanyama crashed the boards like a force of nature. Coach Anthony Ojukwu’s international lineup—Okoro, Ly, Aminata Samassekou, Alima Doumbia, and Betty Kananu—had the Nyayo crowd roaring as Kananu hit back-to-back threes to stretch KPA’s early lead.

The Kenyans went to the first break on top, 24–17, with APR struggling to match their intensity. Okoro turned up the heat in the second quarter, draining a three-pointer that sent fans into a frenzy before stealing the ball and feeding Kananu for an easy layup in transition. The sequence forced APR to burn an early timeout as KPA went on a 7–0 run.

Ly was unplayable in defense, swatting away shots and controlling the boards. For a moment, it looked like APR had no answers. They went more than three minutes without a bucket, surviving only through the free-throw heroics of Destiny Promise Philoxy, who coolly converted all seven attempts. KPA’s dominance was clear as they took a 44–33 lead into halftime—confident, composed, and in command.

The third quarter saw APR rise from the ashes. Kamba Yoro Diakité turned into a scoring machine, slashing through the KPA defense with authority. Italee Lucas, silent in the first half, suddenly caught fire from deep, burying a trio of three-pointers that cut the lead to just four.

KPA, once fluid, grew frantic—passes went astray, rotations faltered, and the legs began to tire. Both Okoro and Ly battled through pain—Okoro with an ankle knock and Ly fighting leg cramps—but their resilience wasn’t enough to stop APR’s momentum. The Rwandans smelled blood, and by the end of the third quarter, the game was tied 54–54.

The final period was a masterclass in composure from APR. Diakité was unstoppable, drawing fouls and finishing through contact, while Lucas orchestrated from the perimeter with poise. Every time KPA fought back—with Alima Doumbia’s clutch threes and Wanyama’s boards—APR had an answer. Philoxy hit dagger free throws, and Diakité sealed it with a long-range bomb that silenced the Kenyan crowd.

When the final buzzer sounded, APR had completed a breathtaking 81–71 comeback, turning an 11-point halftime deficit into a statement win that secured them the top spot in Group A. KPA settled for second place—bruised, but still very much alive in the continental hunt.

APR’s Kamba Yoro Diakité led all scorers with 24 points, six rebounds, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the line. Italee Lucas added 20 points and six rebounds, while Destiny Philoxy chipped in 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

For KPA, Alima Doumbia shone with 24 points and four assists, including six three-pointers. Ifunanya Okoro delivered a near triple-double of 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Aminata Ly had 11 points and 13 boards.

It was a night of high drama, grit, and heartbreak—a classic African basketball showdown that left fans on the edge of their seats and APR standing tall at the summit of Group A.