Kenya's Olympic dreams go up in smoke

Kenyan basketball star Victoria Reynolds. [FIBA]

By losing all the three preliminary group matches, Kenya has been knocked out of the 3X3 FIBA Universality Basketball Qualification Championships in Utsunomia, Japan.

Kenya was beaten by Australia 22-9 in their second match on Saturday before falling 21-7 to Netherlands to finish bottom of Group A with 28 points from three matches.

In their opening match, Kenya lost 19-12 in the hands of Canada on Thursday in the race to secure the Paris Olympic Games tickets.

Australia are at the top with 58 points ahead of Canada 56, Netherlands 48 and Kenya 28 in the three round robin matches.

Team manager Angela Luchivya admitted it was a tough competition.

“It was a tough competition. Canada came to this event after beating two US top teams in another competition, which prepared them well for the Paris Olympics Qualification matches.,” she told Standard Sports from Japan.

Mexico-based Victoria Reynolds (Santos Del Potosi) and Mercy Wanyama who plays for Sauliou in Lithuania were part of the Everlyn Kedogo-coached team.

The local-based players were captain Natalie Akinyi, Madina Okot and Hilda Indasi.