Lynette Matheka
When Tylor Ongwae lifted the 2018-19 title with Danish side Bakken Bears in mid May, a handful of his countrymen took notice of the achievement, but that was to be short-lived.
Ongwae headed to Kenya almost immediately to join up with the men’s basketball national team, Kenya Morans, after being part of a successful campaign for a third consecutive and Bakken Bears’ 15th league title in the last 20 years and the club’s 16th overall.
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He quietly joined the team that was preparing for the FIBA Africa Zone Five championship set for Kampala, Uganda in the last week of June.
The championship doubled as a qualifier to the inaugural senior men’s basketball African Nations’ Championship (Afro-CAN) in Bamako, Mali.
As Kenya finished second after losing 82-61 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Afro-CAN that concluded on Saturday night, he had won the hearts of his countrymen with his brilliance on the court and many celebrated as he walked on stage to receive his top scorer and ‘All-Star Five of the Tournament’ award.
Averaging 21.7 points per game, he scored a combined 130 points in six matches, having played an average of 36.1 minutes per game.
The forward was one of only two players who managed to hit the century mark in points scored. Chad’s Michael Koibe was the other player at 115 points in six matches.
The 28-year old’s basketball journey can, however, be traced back to Eldoret town where, alongside his elder brother James ‘Tyson’ Ongwae, he fell in love with the sport and took it seriously after joining Friends School Kamusinga.
“We had good coaches in high school who helped many of us build careers around basketball. They mentored me and developed my skills further. Having my elder brother in the same school team and playing in the national school games helped build my confidence,” Ogwae told People Sport before departing for the Afro-CAN championship.
The forward landed a scholarship in the US that saw him play in the NCAA Division One basketball for four seasons, spending his last two seasons with University of Louisiana Monroe where he was a standout player.
“I did well in college, won many accolades and that gave me a chance to play for professional teams. I played for Avellino in Italy and for Soldertalje in Sweden before settling at Bakken Bears in Denmark,” he added.
This was the player’s first time doing duty for the Morans as the only other call-up he had received was back in 2011 but he did not make the final team.
His debut for the national team saw him crowned Zone Five’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) as Kenya bagged her maiden title.
“In 2011, I had just left high school and there were more experienced players who were playing pro at the time. I cherished the chance to train alongside such players as I learned a lot from them,” he said.
As Kenya reached their first ever final in any FIBA Africa event, after making a return to continental events since 1993, Ongwae and Tom ‘Bush’ Wamukota made it to the ‘All-Star five of the tournament’.
AFRO-CAN ALL-STAR FIVE OF THE TOURNAMENT
Most Valuable Player -Maxi Shamba (DRC)
Top Scorer -Tylor Ongwae (Kenya)
All Star -Edson Ndoniema (Angola)
All Star -Tom Wamukota (Kenya)
All Star -Jordan Sacko (DR Congo)
Fair Play team of the tournament -Mali
