Nairobi: Olympic and St. John Junior Secondary Schools have emerged as top performers in the inaugural Junior NBA and Safaricom tournament held at the Sabis International School in Nairobi. The competition, which was part of the M-PESA Jr. NBA program launched by NBA Africa and Safaricom, featured a regional basketball tournament for youth aged 13-16.

According to Kenya News Agency, the event saw participation from 24 schools, bringing together over 500 junior players. The Olympic boys' and girls' teams particularly excelled, showcasing their skills and dominance on the court. In the girls' semi-finals, Olympic Junior Secondary decisively defeated Daima Junior Secondary 26-4, while St. John Junior Secondary narrowly overcame Chrisco Junior Secondary 12-10.

In the boys' semi-finals, Olympic Junior Secondary defeated Harambee Junior Secondary 15-6, and St. John Junior Secondary edged past Makini School 16-14. The third-place play-offs saw Daima Junior Secondary winning against Chrisco Junior Secondary 13-5 in the girls' category, and Makini School securing a 23-10 victory over Harambee Junior Secondary in the boys' competition.

The finals were a display of competitive spirit, with Olympic Junior Secondary clinching gold in the girls' category by defeating St. John Junior Secondary 25-03. In contrast, the boys' final witnessed a thrilling match where St. John Junior Secondary triumphed over Olympic Junior Secondary 17-14.

Ezra Alenga, the coach for Olympic Junior Secondary, expressed pride in his teams' achievements, highlighting the rigorous preparations that began when schools closed in November 2024. He noted the dedication and hard work that contributed to their success. Meanwhile, coach Brian of St. John Junior Secondary emphasized the strategic play that led to their victory, despite the physical challenges faced by his team.

Additionally, the tournament provided opportunities for further development, with 40 coaches assisting players during workouts. Select players will have the chance to participate in the Junior NBA elite 100 camp in April in Mombasa. Mike Finley, Kenya Country Lead for NBA Africa, explained that 100 players were identified for additional workouts, and 15 girls were chosen for the 'for her' camp in Nairobi during the BAL weekend in Kenya.