Bankers take on KAA in basketball league play-offs

Men’s basketball Premier League champions Co-operative Bank play Kenya Airports Authority in the play-off quarter-final Game Two tie at Nyayo National Stadium Saturday.

With a game down in the best-of-three series play-offs, Co-op Bank must beat aggressive KAA to remain in the running. A second consecutive victory for KAA in Game Two will see champions Co-op Bank exit to the play-offs on a 2-0 basis.

But with only one chance left, Co-op Bank can still avenge the defeat against KAA to level the series. The result will force decisive Game Three on Sunday to determine who qualifies for the semi-final. The match starts at 2.30pm.

Game Two tie is tricky for the bankers because pressure will be on them against KAA, who have never gone beyond the play-off quarter-finals stage.

KAA shocked Co-op Bank (67-59) in the opener last weekend leading comfortably in three quarters except third in which Co-op Bank won (20-10).

TEAM TO WATCH

Motivated Billy Ongute and Evans Ochieng of KAA are again expected to give Co-op Bank a hard time to qualify for semi-final for the first time.

Co-op Bank’s experienced coach Carey Oketch will face a daunting task in fielding a winning outfit away from any gambling.

Youthful Allan Ouma, Tony Abondo and Mark Mayien are likely to play a key role in Co-op Bank’s survival.

Co-op Bank whitewashed KPA 3-0 in last year’s best-of-five series play-off final to win their seventh crown.

In another men’s Premier League play-offs Game Two, leaders Ulinzi Warriors will be out to eliminate Lions on a 2-0 basis when the two sides lock horns at 4pm.

Ulinzi Warriors under coach William Balozi is a team to watch, having beaten Lions 73-54 in Game One last weekend.