Kenya Ports Authority crushed Cameroon’s FAP 83–64 in Cairo as Sara Dickey’s brilliance powered disciplined offence, strong shooting, and relentless energy, leaving FAP scrambling defensively while showcasing KPA’s WBLA dominance and championship-level composure in the season opener.
Last Updated on
December 5, 2025
The WBLA Tip-Off delivered its first major storyline of the season as Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) powered past Cameroon’s Forces Armées et Police (FAP) with an emphatic 83–64 victory. What was expected to be a tight, physical matchup quickly shifted into a showcase of KPA’s composure, shooting discipline, and superior execution, fueled by a brilliant performance from their standout guard, Sara Dickey, who set the tone from start to finish.
FAP entered the game with the home-court energy and early aggression. Still, the momentum faded under the weight of missed opportunities, defensive lapses, and long stretches of inconsistency from behind the arc. While they managed flashes of the defensive intensity they are known for, those moments were too few and too scattered to disrupt a well-organised KPA side.
KPA’s engine and emotional heartbeat on the floor was unquestionably Sara Dickey, who delivered one of the most complete performances of the opening round. She stacked up 23 points and seven rebounds, controlling the tempo, punishing defensive errors, and repeatedly finding seams in FAP’s defence. Dickey showcased her signature blend of pace, confident ball-handling, and shot creation.
Whether pulling up for mid-range jumpers, attacking downhill, or reading gaps in transition, she looked unstoppable. Whenever FAP attempted a run, Dickey responded—either scoring herself or drawing enough defensive attention to open up the floor for her teammates. Her rebounding was equally impactful; she crashed the boards with tenacity, securing extra possessions and preventing FAP from running their transition game.
KPA collectively fed off her energy. The Kenyan champions displayed remarkable spacing discipline, strong off-ball movement, and patience in shot selection, all of which made their offence look effortless compared to the erratic rhythm of their opponents.
Despite the difficult night for FAP, Emedie Damaris stood tall with a gritty double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, emerging as the team’s most reliable contributor on both ends. Her presence in the paint kept FAP alive throughout the matchup, battling against KPA’s interior defenders and providing much-needed second-chance points.
Damaris’s footwork and determination were central to every FAP run. She absorbed contact, powered through double teams, and brought a level of physicality that FAP desperately needed as the game slipped away. On a night where FAP’s perimeter shooting suffered, her efficiency and dominance inside were a reminder of how valuable she is to the team’s identity.
But even Damaris’ effort wasn’t enough to mask the team-wide problems that defined the game.
The story of the night for FAP was their poor defence, poor shot selection, and overall inconsistency from behind the arc. They repeatedly left KPA shooters wide open, fell behind on defensive rotations, and allowed KPA far too many uncontested looks. Their perimeter defence struggled against quick drives and kickouts, often forcing late, ineffective closeouts.
Offensively, FAP created chances but failed to capitalise on them. Missed layups, wasted fast breaks, and low-percentage shots plagued their rhythm. Their three-point attempts lacked consistency, and the inability to stretch the floor allowed KPA to collapse the paint and neutralise FAP’s interior strengths.
KPA’s 83–64 win was fully earned—driven by discipline, energy, and the brilliance of Sara Dickey, while FAP must return to the drawing board to address defensive breakdowns and offensive inefficiency. With talents like Emedie Damaris, they have the personnel to compete, but improvements are needed quickly if they hope to make noise in this WBLA campaign.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
