Aga Khan Academy (Mombasa) and Umoja Junior School (Changamwe) emerged as the new champions of the Mpesa Jr NBA Coast Regional Finals, held at the weekend at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa.

The hosts clinched the boys’ title after a hard-fought 25-19 victory over Kinango Junior School in a tense final at the indoor court arena.

Aga Khan, under coach Eugine Auka, dominated defensively, forcing turnovers and shutting down their opponents to secure the regional crown.

In the girls’ final, Umoja JSS delivered a statement performance, overpowering Aga Khan Academy 20-15 in an intense showdown.

Umoja’s fast start, led by Zuhura Suleiman’s scoring prowess, saw them take an 8-4 halftime lead.

Despite Aga Khan’s second-half fightback, Umoja’s resilience and disciplined defense sealed their championship win.

Speaking after the tournament, Aga Khan head coach Eugine Auka lauded his team’s performance, celebrating their boys’ victory and the girls’ runners-up finish.

He stated, “Winning the boys’ title and coming second in the girls’ category is no small feat, especially against such strong opponents. I appreciate Mpesa and NBA Africa for organizing such a high-level tournament that helps young players grow.”

Aga Khan (Boys) and Umoja JSS (Girls) reached the finals after stellar semifinal performances, with Aga Khan defeating St Mary’s JSS 18-10 and Umoja edging out Tsagwa JSS 8-6.

Third place went to Oshwal Academy (boys) and Tsagwa JSS (girls) after playoff victories against St Mary’s and Mwanamunga, respectively.

Winners from both categories were rewarded with smartphones and airtime courtesy of Safaricom Mpesa, the tournament’s main sponsor.

The two-day event featured 40 teams and 480 players from Mombasa, Kilifi as well as Kwale counties.

Kenya Country Lead for NBA Africa Michael Finley highlighted the need for better structures to grow local talent.