Eldoret Women’s Basketball League (EWBL) defending champions Storm Troopers were unable to raise a team to face opponents Calvary Ladies during a scheduled league game, due to a player exodus led by the team’s league MVP and overall three-time gold medallist, Sylvia Masese, earning their opponents a walkover.

Calvary Ladies basketball team arrived at the match venue, Sirikwa Pentecostal Fellowship (SPF) basketball court in Eldoret City, ready for the scheduled league encounter and waited for more than 20 minutes for the game to kick off.  

However, their opponents Storm Troopers, were unable to raise the requisite number of players.

In a communiqué shared on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, with People Sport, EWBL official Kenneth Chemwok said Calvary Ladies basketball team was awarded a walkover and three points as per FIBA rules, since Storm Troopers players who turned up at SPF during the latest women’s league game were fewer than five.

“A walkover was awarded to Calvary Ladies due to the failure by Storm Troopers to play the game, since the team had fewer than five players present at the match venue (SPF),” Chemwok explained.

Chemwok said due to failure by Storm Troopers to honour the match, the team has also been deducted 20 points from its accumulated league points.

Contacted for comment yesterday by People Sports, Storm Troopers Team Manager (TM) Ken Nabwera said the team was unable to honour the league match against Calvary Ladies following an exodus of players led by the team’s last season EWBL-named Most Valuable Player (MVP), Masese.

“During our scheduled game against Calvary Ladies, only four Storm Troopers players turned up at the match venue (SPF). One player arrived late and, as per FIBA rules, we forfeited the match and Calvary Ladies were awarded a walkover. Masese also did not turn up for the game,” Nabwera explained.

Masese, fondly known as ‘Maseh’ by teammates within EWBL circles, joined and debuted for Storm Troopers during last season’s 2023-2024 EWBL and also steered the side to win the league title as she bagged three gold medals, as MVP, top scorer, and top steal player.

The 21-year-old Masese, a student at Eldoret National Polytechnic, was named EWBL’s MVP and played alongside Thunder basketball team forward Tylor Ongwae’s sister, Stacey Ongwae.

“Masese did not rejoin the team when the new 2024-2025 season started. Though during the last season, she also suffered an on-court injury and wanted to take time to recuperate,” Nabwera said.

Nabwera further stated, “So, Masese and a number of other team players have left the team. We are making every effort to bring Masese back to the team.”

“We urgently intend to scout and recruit at least three more players to enable Storm Troopers to continue playing in the EWBL and to honour the team’s fixtures against opponent teams,” Nabwera said.

During another EWBL match, Pantheras basketball team, featuring, among other key players, Stacy Bonareri, Michelle Chepkemoi, Faith Totana, Albright Kosgey, Joy Rono, Beryl Nyambura and Flavour Mukami, trounced Bhadie Yankees 66-39 at Calvary Chapel indoor basketball court in Eldoret City.