Giants KPA engage the high gear as they shift focus to WBLA

 Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have stepped up preparations for the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) set for December in Egypt, as they look to build on their experience and deliver stronger performances on the continental stage.

Assistant head coach Samuel Ocholla said the team is focused on adapting to new tactics and correcting past weaknesses ahead of the high-stakes competition.

“We’ve already started training, and I’m confident things will go well. A new coach is coming in, and it will be interesting to see how the team adjusts to the new tactics. I believe we’ll deliver a stronger performance and even better results moving forward,” Ocholla said.

He admitted that improving their third-quarter mentality remains one of the biggest priorities, pointing to costly lapses during the recent Zone Five Qualifiers in Nairobi, where KPA finished third to secure their WBLA ticket.

“We must work on our third-quarter approach because in previous games, we collapsed after halftime. In our last group match against APR of Rwanda, we were leading but ended up losing by 10 points. In the semifinals against REG, it was the same story — we were up by 11 points going into the third quarter but cracked and allowed them to outscore us 29–17, eventually losing by 17 points.

“Even in the third-place playoff, we led by 20 points at halftime but again struggled in the third quarter. Les Hippos caught up, and we were forced into overtime — something that should not happen,” Ocholla explained.

With lessons learned and fresh tactical input on the way, the national champions are banking on improved discipline, better focus, and stronger mental fortitude to make a statement in Egypt.

The continental tournament will run from Friday, December 5 to December 14.