Olympic and St. John’s JSS crowned champions in inaugural M-PESA Jr. NBA Nairobi edition
Olympic and St. John’s JSS crowned champions in inaugural M-PESA Jr. NBA Nairobi edition
Olympic Junior Secondary School (JSS) from Kibera and St. John’s JSS from Korogocho emerged victorious in the first-ever M-PESA Jr. NBA Nairobi Edition, clinching the boys’ and girls’ titles respectively in a thrilling basketball tournament held at Sabis International School Basketball Arena.
The tournament, which featured 550 players from 40 teams across 24 schools in Nairobi, showcased outstanding talent and competitive spirit. The winners were rewarded with smartphones and airtime courtesy of Safaricom M-PESA, while the top 16 boys and girls from each region will advance to an elite Top 100 camp at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, in April.
In the tightly contested boys’ championship game, St. John’s JSS edged out Olympic JSS 16-13 in a pulsating final. St. John’s Byron Onyango opened the scoring with a smooth two-pointer, but Olympic’s Antony Onyango responded swiftly, ensuring a close 9-7 contest by halftime. Despite a fierce second-half push from Olympic, St. John’s held their ground, closing the game 7-6 to secure the title.
Makini School and Harambee JSS took third and fourth place, respectively, after impressive performances throughout the tournament.
In the girls’ category, Olympic JSS delivered a commanding performance, cruising past St. John’s JSS with a dominant 25-3 victory. Coach Ezra Alenga’s team set the tempo early, finishing the first half with a comfortable 13-3 lead. Their defensive resilience shone through in the second half, as they shut out their opponents 12-0 to claim the championship in style.
Daima JSS secured third place, while Chrisco JSS finished fourth in the girls’ category.
Speaking after the boys’ final, St. John’s Head Coach, Brian Busaka, expressed his gratitude to the Jr. NBA and Safaricom M-PESA for organizing the event.
“This has been an incredible experience for our young players. They have had the opportunity to showcase their talent in a high-quality facility and learn about financial literacy through M-PESA Go. Our opponents were tough, but our tactical game plan worked, and we are thrilled to emerge champions,” said Busaka.
Olympic JSS girls’ player, Cecilia Amimo, could not hide her excitement after the victory.
“Being crowned Jr. NBA Nairobi champions is a historic moment for us. We knew the competition would be tough, but our consistent training paid off. I am also thrilled to receive a smartphone from Safaricom. It is a reward I didn’t expect, and it will inspire more young players to take up basketball and dream big,” she said
The two-day tournament not only focused on basketball but also incorporated financial literacy training for the young athletes through M-PESA Go, equipping them with essential money management skills.
Victor Odada, Head of M-PESA Payments at Safaricom, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering young talent.
“We are happy to support, nurture, and transform the lives of young Kenyans through sports and financial education. This tournament has revealed the immense basketball potential we have in this country,” said Odada.
Michael Finley, NBA Africa’s Kenya Country Lead, highlighted the overwhelming participation and the need to continue investing in grassroots basketball.
“We initially targeted 400 players, but we had over 500 participants, which shows the passion for basketball in Kenya. Despite some schools lacking proper facilities, the level of talent displayed over the two days was remarkable,” said Finley.
Road to Mombasa: Next Stop for Jr. NBA Tournament
The M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament now shifts to Mombasa, where young basketball talents will battle it out on March 8th – 9th, 2025, at Aga Khan Academy.
Final Standings
Boys’ Category
1. St. John’s JSS (Champions)
2. Olympic JSS (Runners-up)
3. Makini School (Third place)
4. Harambee JSS (Fourth place)
Girls’ Category
1. Olympic JSS (Champions)
2. St. John’s JSS (Runners-up)
3. Daima JSS (Third place)
4. Chrisco JSS (Fourth place)
As the Jr. NBA tournament continues to grow in Kenya, young players now have a platform to showcase their skills, dream big, and aim for higher opportunities in the world of basketball.
