Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will, for the third year in a row, miss out on the Women's Basketball League Africa Zone 5 qualifiers final, after losing 80-64 to two-time WBLA bronze medalists APR in a highly-anticipated semifinal played at the Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre, in Kibaha, Tanzania.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe Samuel Ocholla-led Dockers had hoped to make it back to the final for the first time since 2023 when they dominated the zonal qualifiers to move to the continental competition as champions, going on to win silver. In 2024, they fell in the semis to Al Ahly, the script repeating in 2025 in Nairobi where KPA fell to Rwanda Energy Group (REG).In Friday's semifinal, KPA fought for three quarters, trailing by nine points heading to the final quarter, only to crumble 11-4 in the final period for the loss.Olivette Tumukunde got action going for APR from the first whistle with a layup, condemning KPA to a chase from the get go. Tonie Morgan tied the game at 6-6 for KPA with a jump shot in the paint. But just 17 seconds later, Eleuteria Lhavanguane answered with a layup, putting APR back in front at 8-6. That sequence set the tone.Kenya looking to build on Denmark win against Qatar, Jersey in cricket double-headerYacine Diop went on a 5-0 run, Jessica Jackson adding a basket to see APR lead 17-8 with 4:47 to play but Victoria Reynolds and Aminata Samassekou shot back-to-back from deep to cut the deficit to three, the quarter going on to end 26-21 on favour of the Rwandese.The second quarter was closely fought, despite APR going on their biggest surge when they rattled off a 7-0 run stretching the lead from 26-24 to 33-24. Lhavanguane scored all seven points during that stretch, knocking down every shot she took as APR dominated 26-24 to carry a seven-point advantage to the halftime break.Ocholla's charges kept the fight going in the third quarter, going on their best run late in the period, stringing together an 8-0 run to trim their deficit from 69-52 to 69-60. Reynolds supplied all eight points, hitting two field goals and draining three free throws, in a 17-15 outcome. They, however, let the game go in the final period to lose by 16.##NAJAVA_MECA_10055733##Jessica Jackson anchored APR's victory with a monster performance of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks in 38:22, shooting 8-of-14 from the field, including 7-of-12 from two and 5-of-6 from the line. She finished with an efficiency rating of 29, providing a steady scoring presence and defensive control around the rim.Diop delivered a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, adding two assists, and three steals in 35:02, while Lhavanguane added 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 34:12.On the other side, Reynolds led KPA with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, shooting an efficient 9-of-13 from the field, 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 3-of-3 from the line but it was not enough to pull her side through.The Kenyan champions are now relegated to the third-place clash where they will face home side Fox Divas who fell 103-57 to REG in another semifinal.Big shame as world marathon champion joins growing list of suspended athletes