St. John’s Junior School , Nairobi, Stages Electric Performance to Clinch Inaugural NBA Jr. Basketball National Title
St. John’s Junior School from Nairobi staged a thrilling, high-octane performance to defeat hosts Aga Khan Academy in a nail-biting final at the inaugural NBA Junior Basketball Tournament, powered by M-PESA.
The pulsating final, played last weekend at Aga Khan’s backyard in Mombasa, was packed with all the hallmarks of a classic championship clash. St. John’s dazzled the crowd with moments of sheer individual brilliance, led by none other than the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Moses Ochieng.
It was a glorious afternoon for Nairobi schools, as Olympic Junior School from Kibera Nairobi also lifted the girls’ title, capping off a clean sweep for the capital region.
The relentless St. John’s Juniors overcame a towering Aga Khan side 30-23 to claim the national boys’ crown, while Olympic Junior displayed remarkable grit and determination, edging out Nyanza’s Shelter Academy 19-15 in a tense and tightly contested final.
Path to Glory
Earlier in the week, St. John’s booked their place in the championship match with a commanding 42-20 semifinal win over Nyanza’s Siaya Central Juniors, while Aga Khan earned their finals ticket by overcoming Western’s St. Joseph RC 66-53.
In the 3rd-place playoffs, the Western region sides fought back with authority. Lugulu AC Junior School sealed bronze in the girls’ category with a convincing 38-21 win over Nyamachari Junior, while St. Joseph RC secured third place in the boys’ division by dispatching Siaya Central 41-25.
Moses Ochieng of St. John’s Junior School and Brenda Akinyi of Olympic Junior School were crowned Best Players of the Year in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively, while Brian Busaka of St. John’s and Ezra Alenga of Olympic were named Best Coaches of the Year.
Post-Match Reflections
Speaking after the finals, Brian Busaka, Head Coach of St. John’s Junior School, expressed his pride and gratitude:
“First, I want to thank M-PESA and Jr. NBA for giving us this amazing platform to showcase our talent. To emerge as national champions is simply incredible. Aga Khan played well — they had a height advantage — but we countered with tactical, high-pressure play and broke through their defense. Being named Coach of the Year is a huge honor, and having the Best Player come from my team makes it even more special.”
In the girls’ finals, Olympic Junior School had earlier dismantled Central’s Nyamachari Junior in a one-sided semifinal, while Shelter Academy booked their spot by outplaying Lugulu AC Junior School of Western.
Ezra Alenga, Olympic’s Head Coach, praised his team’s resilience:
“Western and Nyanza teams were very strong opponents. But I’m proud we emerged champions of this year’s Jr. NBA. The final against Shelter Academy was intense — in the second half, we pressed harder, tightened our defense, and that made all the difference.”
Beyond Basketball
Victor Odada, Head of M-PESA Payments at Safaricom, celebrated the success of the tournament and its wider impact:
“Our purpose is to transform lives, which is why we support sports across the country. I’m glad to see the success of this year’s M-PESA Jr. NBA, where teams showcased incredible talent. Through this platform, we’ve not only helped young people display and nurture their skills, but also equipped them with financial management lessons to empower them for the future.”
Elite Camp and Grassroots Impact
Before the finals, the Top 100 Elite Camp brought together the finest 50 boys and 50 girls from across Nairobi, Coast, Rift Valley, and Nyanza regions. The camp focused on advanced skills development, scrimmages, 5v5 games, scouting, and selecting All-Star teams. Each All-Star received a smartphone and individual medals, adding to the excitement and recognition.
Michael Finley, NBA Africa’s Kenya Country Lead, applauded the program’s reach and success:
“This marks the close of our first edition, and what a tremendous success it has been. We’ve engaged over 10,000 youth, not just through games, but also through clinics and financial literacy programs offered by M-PESA GO. The grassroots talent we’ve witnessed is incredible, and we’re hopeful to return even bigger next year. Kenya has outstanding basketball potential — it just needs platforms like the M-PESA Jr. NBA to unlock it.”
A Game-Changing Tournament
The M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament has positively impacted over 10,000 boys and girls across Kenya through competitive games, NBA Fit clinics, life-skills workshops, and financial literacy sessions, leaving a lasting mark on the next generation of basketball talent.