WBLA: KPA ladies storm quarterfinals despite loss to holders
By Luke Oluoch, December 10, 2025The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) basketball team has sealed qualification in the ongoing 2025 Basketball League Africa in Egypt, despite falling to defending champions Ferroviario de Maputo, 91–76, in their last group B clash staged on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Against a side boasting six double-digit scorers, KPA showed tremendous grit to battle the fancied hosts toe-to-toe and took the match to a decisive final quarter where their resistance was broken.
The hosts proved dominant in the final five minutes, forcing turnovers and capitalising on transition opportunities to close out the contest with a decisive finishing run of 26 bench points to KPA’s 12.
New-signings dominate
American forward Sarah Dickey once again delivered another complete performance, posting 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 40 minutes, to add to Alexus Johnson, whose near-perfect outing sparked KPA’s 28-point third quarter.
Johnson scored 24 points and 12 rebounds in the clash.
Dockers run-ins
The Dockers started their campaign by beating Nigeria’s First Bank in Group B of the Basketball League Africa, dominating them 82-53.
This was after a resounding start after dispatching Cameroon FAP 83–64 in their opener, a tie that Sarah Dickey dominated with her 23 points in her debut heater.
The defeat saw KPA finish second to the defending champions, as both teams advanced to the next phase.
The Kenyan team, led by skipper Natalie Mwangale, also boasts the talents of renowned star Mercy Wanyama, sibling to football icons Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga, and Barbara Diana Achieng.
Others in their ranks are Doumbia Alima (Guard), Betty Kananu Maithima (Shooting Guard/Forward), Cynthia Sara Mawero, Natalie Akinyi Mwangale (Point Guard), Rebecca Njoki Nkatha (Shooting Guard), Yvonne Atieno Okello, Vilma Achieng Owino (Power Forward), Aminata Samassekou (Guard), and Charlene Rachel Wandago.
The Kenyan side is among the 12 African teams participating in this year’s highly competitive WBLA, a FIBA-sanctioned competition.