Bankers inch closer to top spot as play-offs loom large
Coop Bank Titus Musimbi (left) dribbles past Blades' Allan Owino on March 15, 2014 during their Basketball League Season Opener tournament at Nairobi Railways Club. Eight men’s and women’s basketball teams have confirmed participation in this year’s open pre-season tournament to be held at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium this weekend. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Co-op Bank, who are seeking a seventh title, started their weekend matches with a 54-49 victory over league leaders and rivals USIU-A Tigers.
- Should Co-op Bank win all their remaining five matches, they will finish first in the regular season with 58 points. Tigers are left with three key matches from which they can rise to a maximum of 56 points.
Champions Co-operative Bank enhanced their chances of finishing top in the regular season of men’s basketball Premier League after harvesting maximum four points in Nairobi at the weekend.
Co-op Bank, who are seeking a seventh title, started their weekend matches with a 54-49 victory over league leaders and rivals USIU-A Tigers. The entertaining return leg match was played at Kasarani late on Saturday.
Co-op Bank went on to punish Blades 64-53 at Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on Sunday, collecting four points to stay second with 48 points from 23 wins and two loses.
Tigers lead the 16-team table of standings with 50 points. The students have won 23 matches and lost four.
Should Co-op Bank win all their remaining five matches, they will finish first in the regular season with 58 points. Tigers are left with three key matches from which they can rise to a maximum of 56 points.
Ulinzi Warriors are set to end the regular season with 58 points after garnering four crucial points at the weekend. Eric Mutoro scored impressive 36 points to lead Ulinzi to a deserved 90-50 win over Mennonites on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.
On sunday, Ulinzi Warriors again beat Terrorists 66-54 at Kasarani. The soldiers remained third with 46 points.
Ulinzi, who are a big threat to both Co-op Bank and Tigers in this season’s title campaign, have so far won 24 matches and lost two.
Lions assured themselves of a top eight finish which would guarantee them a place in the post-season play-offs when they clawed Nakuru Club 70-69.
Lions are fourth with 43 points with only two matches at hand.
Terrorists’ chances of making the top eight went up in smoke after they lost two tight matches at the weekend, first falling 69-67 to Strathmore then going down 66-54 to Ulinzi. Terrorists are ninth in the league with 37 points.
