KPA teams host play-off finals

Kenya Ports Authority teams will host Nairobi-based opponents in the first two best-of-five series Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League play-offs final at KPA Makande Gymnasium this weekend.

KPA women will set the ball rolling in their bid to recapture the league title they last held in 2013 against a much-improved Equity Bank in Game One at 2pm. KPA men, who last won the crown in 2014, will be seeking to win a fifth title when they host eight-time champions Co-op Bank. Game One gets underway at 4pm.

Game Two matches in both categories will be played at the same venue from 4pm. Action will later shift to Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium in Nairobi for Game Three to Five from February 11.

Champions Ulinzi Warriors (men) and USIU-A Flames (women) relinquished the league titles at the semi-final stage. Ulinzi Warriors lost 3-1 to KPA in the semi-final, while Equity Bank knocked out USIU-A Flames 3-0.

KPA women, who are seeking a 12th championship, easily knocked out Co-op Bank 3-0 in the play-off semi-final to qualify. On the other hand Equity Bank, playing in their first ever play-offs final, eliminated two-time champions USIU-A Flames 3-0 in the second semi-final.

KPA, who finished top in the regular season with unbeaten record on 36 points, and runners-up Equity Bank (32 points) earned a direct ticket to the semi-finals under the newly-introduced play-offs format where the top six teams advance.

Equity Bank coach David Maina said: “Our aim is to win one game in Mombasa and work hard to perform better at home since we are hosting our opponents in three matches in Nairobi,’’ Maina said.

He will rely on Kenyan international Hilda Indasi, Samba Mjomba and Mercy Wanyama for victory in the first match.

FIXTURES

Saturday

Women: KPA v Equity Bank (2pm, Makande)

Men: KPA v Co-op Bank (4pm).

Sunday

Women: KPA v Equity Bank (2pm, Makande)

Men: KPA v Co-op Bank (4pm)