- KPA thrash former champions First Bank to stay perfect in the ongoing WBLA 2025 on Sunday, December 7.
- They managed to overpower the Nigerian side 82–53 at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Egypt.
- Next up, KPA will face Mozambican giants Ferroviário Maputo, who also boast an unbeaten 2–0 record.
The national basketball champions, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), continued their blistering start upon returning to the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA), improving to 2-0 with an 82-53 victory over former champions First Bank.
KPA who missed the 2024 season, dominated every quarter to hand the Nigerian team who are back after a six-year absence, their second loss in Group B on Sunday, at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Egypt.
Malian guard Aminata Samassekou and American center Alexus Johnson led the Nabil Kabalan-coached squad to victory, scoring 20 and 19 points respectively, each finishing with an efficiency rating of 22.
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KPA thrash former champions First Bank to stay perfect
Samassekou, who managed only two points as the 2023 silver medalists began their campaign with an 83-64 win against Cameroon’s FAP on opening day, delivered a transformed performance.
Johnson likewise rebounded strongly after fouling out in just 11 minutes during the opener, where she scored only four.
The Malian guard had a quiet start with just three points in a 19-13 opening quarter, but ignited in the second period, sinking two three-pointers with a mid-range jumper in between, stretching the lead to 27-14 within the first two minutes.
Aminata Samassekou told FIBA.basketball that the team executed the head coach’s game plan effectively to secure the result, adding that they are taking each contest as it comes while building toward their ultimate goal.
It was a good game for us. We stuck to the coach’s game plan and even though we didn’t have the best of starts, we made adjustments defensively, which gave us good transition on offense and our shots were falling. We also played together, helping each other and I am happy for the win.
We are two wins in and I am confident this squad can go the distance. We are, however, taking it a game at a time and for now the focus is to finish the group stage strong.”
By halftime, she had contributed 12 points before Coach Kabalan substituted her for Natalie Mwangale, who dished two assists and added a basket.
Samassekou later returned and closed the half with an assist to Sara Dickey for a clutch three-pointer, sending KPA into the break leading 45-24.
The guard was instrumental again as KPA steadied themselves after a shaky opening to the third quarter, mirroring their second-quarter momentum by starting with a steal-and-score from beyond the arc. Johnson then set her up for a fast-break layup, pushing the Kenyan champions to the 50-point mark (50-24).
Johnson, who had scored only four points in 26 minutes up to that stage, took control by adding nine in the third quarter, which ended 19-13.
She closed the game with six more points, including her sole three-pointer in seven attempts, finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer.
Samassekou shot an efficient 7-of-9 from the field, adding three points from the free-throw line to reach her final total.
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She also recorded four rebounds, three steals, and three assists in a spectacular all-around display. Johnson, who shot 5-of-9 inside the arc, narrowly missed a double-double by just two rebounds.
The 6’5″ center also contributed five assists and two steals as the pair, alongside Dickey’s 15 points, guided KPA to victory.
KPA will next face Mozambican giants Ferroviario Maputo, who also hold a perfect 2-0 record.
The two sides meet on Wednesday from 6 PM EAT, with the winner taking pole position in Group B for favorable quarterfinal seeding.