Zetech University joins basketball premier league

What you need to know:

  • Zetech had made a strong start in the semi-final by beating Dankind Academy (89-76) in Game One followed by another 61-56 victory in Game Two. But Dankind recovered to win Game Three 61-56 and Game Four 54-52 to lock the series 2-2.
  • Zetech had finished top in the regular season with Umoja grabbing the second position which makes their final tie exciting.
  • KPA, on the other hand, had no opposition in knocking out champions Co-op Bank 3-0 in the first semi-final. KPA last won the league title 22 years ago while Ulinzi Warriors have also gone dry in seven years.

Zetech University have been promoted to the 2015 Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s Premier League.

Zetech has been promoted to the 16-club competition after qualifying for this year’s men’s Division One league play-off final against Umoja. Umoja have also been promoted.

Zetech University had a great season, finishing top in the regular season. Zetech eliminated Dankind Academy 3-2 in men’s Division One best-of-five play-off semi-finals. Two teams will be relegated from the top-flight league and their slots taken by Zetech and Umoja.

Dankind Academy had rallied from two games down to tie the semi-final series 2-2 but Zetech, coached by Job Munene, won the decisive Game Five 70-60 on Tuesday to reach the final.

On Tuesday, Zetech raced to a 23-20 first quarter run against Dankind for a 34-33 half-time lead. Dankind went up 13-12 in the second and again forced a 16-16 tie in the third quarter.

Munene threw in Joshua Kisali and Jeremy Opiyo, who saved the day for their team. Kisali scored 18 points and Opiyo 15 for the winners, while Athiel Lwal connected 27 for the losers.

Zetech had made a strong start in the semi-final by beating Dankind Academy (89-76) in Game One followed by another 61-56 victory in Game Two. But Dankind recovered to win Game Three 61-56 and Game Four 54-52 to lock the series 2-2.

Zetech and Umoja were scheduled to clash in Game One of the best-five five final series at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani by the time of press last night.

FINISHED TOP

Game Two will be played Thursday and Game Three Friday. The winner will be crowned the 2014 men’s Division One league champions although the two finalists automatically qualify for the 2015 Premier League.

Zetech had finished top in the regular season with Umoja grabbing the second position which makes their final tie exciting.

Experienced Joshua Kisali, Jeremy Opiyo and Joshua Okumu have been consistent in scoring for Zetech. But Umoja were expected to parade no nonsense Rodgers Ombati, Joseph Dibando and Gilbert Obiero in their final showdown against Zetech.

Men’s Premier League play-offs final Game One between Ulinzi Warriors and Kenya Ports Authority was scheduled for Kasarani last night. Ulinzi Warriors, survived by a whisker eliminating USIU-A Tigers 3-2 in a hotly contested semi-final.

After the two giants had tied the series 2-2, Ulinzi Warriors had to use all the trick in book to beat Tigers 68-56 in the decisive Game Five on Monday.

KPA, on the other hand, had no opposition in knocking out champions Co-op Bank 3-0 in the first semi-final. KPA last won the league title 22 years ago while Ulinzi Warriors have also gone dry in seven years.

The soldiers have been fighting the battle with only nine players and KPA are likely capitalize on the soldiers weak bench to win the title after a long wait.

Strongma William Ochieng, Victor Odendo, Ancette Wafula and Ben Mfutu of Ulinzi enjoy long experience compared to the youthful KPA. Aariel Okall, Tobias Onyango, Samuel Ocholla and Alex Lugasi have matured to give Ulinzi Warriors a run for their money. Ochieng scored 24 points with 15 rebounds against Tigers was Ulinzi’s star to watch.

Game Two will be played tomorrow(thurday) at the same venue and Game Four on Friday. In case of a 2-2 tie, the decisive Game Five will be played on Saturday.

Semi-final results: Ulinzi Warriors 68 Tigers 56, Umoja 72 KCA-U 61, Zetech University 70 Dankind Academy 60.