Uasin Gishu and Testimony Junior Schools were crowned champions at the M-PESA Jr. NBA Rift Valley regional finals on Sunday, held at the Uasin Gishu school courts in Eldoret, showcasing the region’s rising basketball stars.
The boys’ final saw Uasin Gishu narrowly defeat Testimony Junior School from Kesses 13-11. With the score tied at 11-11, Daniel Mwangi of Uasin Gishu made a game-winning layup at the buzzer, clinching the dramatic victory.
The girls’ final was just as intense, with Testimony Junior School edging past Uasin Gishu 18-17 in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire contest. Despite a last-minute surge by Uasin Gishu, led by Mary Tindi and Zawadi Agwanda, Testimony’s defense held firm to capture the title.
“I’m incredibly proud of both of my teams. Finishing first in the girls’ category and second in the boys’ is a huge accomplishment,” said Barry Wycliff, head coach of Testimony Junior School. “The talent we’ve witnessed here is outstanding, and with the right nurturing, Kenya can become a major basketball force.”
Uasin Gishu’s boys secured their spot in the final after defeating Open Arms 14-10 in the semifinals, while Testimony’s girls advanced with a 13-7 win over Kipsinende.
Maurice Ouma, head coach of Uasin Gishu, praised the M-PESA and NBA Africa collaboration. “The talent on display is remarkable. If we continue to invest in youth development and build solid systems, Kenya could produce top-tier basketball players,” he said.
Both champion teams walked away with smartphones and airtime, courtesy of Safaricom M-PESA, while every team received a basketball, thanks to NBA Africa.
In the playoff rounds, Kapkoi Junior School (boys) and AIC Lelmokwo Junior School (girls) took third place honors, defeating Open Arms and Kipsinende, respectively.
“The talent in Rift Valley has been exceptional. The future of basketball in Kenya is bright, and we are committed to discovering and nurturing this talent in partnership with M-PESA,” said Kita Matungulu, NBA Africa’s Director of Basketball Operations. “We’re excited for the next tournaments.”
Over the course of the two-day event, 40 teams and 450 players from Rift Valley participated, with Safaricom also offering financial literacy sessions through M-PESA Go to help equip the young players with essential skills for managing money.
With the Rift Valley tournament wrapped up, the M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament now heads to Kisumu next weekend, March 22-23, 2025, at Kenyatta Sports Ground, where even more young talents will be in action.
