Four teams through to leagues’ play-off semis

Four teams have qualified for play-off semi-finals of Kenya Basketball Federation men and women’s lower tier leagues.

Footprints and Africa Nazarene University (ANU) both eliminated their opponents on a 2-0 basis in best-of-three series quarterfinal matches played at Strathmore University outdoor courts in Madaraka, Nairobi, at the weekend.

On Sunday, Footprints beat Daystar University 37-36 in Game Two of women’s play-off quarterfinals to advance on a 2-0 basis, having won Game One 54-43 at the same venue on Saturday.

Footprints, who were promoted from Nairobi Basketball Association league this year, will now meet ANU in the best-of-five series semi-final matches. Two finalists will be promoted to the women’s Premier League next year.

ANU also eliminated Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2-0 in the quarterfinals after a convincing 73-65 win in Game Two on Sunday.

ANU had won the opener 41-40 on Saturday.

Footprints coach Juma Kent said: “We did not play as planned. The court was slippery due to rains, contributing to our inability to utilize well our scoring chances.’’

In men’s  Division Two play-offs quarter-final matches played at the weekend, Kenya Defence Forces Morans reached the semi-finals when they knocked out Riara University 2-0 on the best-of-three series.

KDF Morans, coached by former Kenya international and Ulinzi Warriors forward Moses ‘Chopper’ Shida, defeated Riara University 41-37 in Game Two on Sunday. Morans had won Game One 59-47 on Saturday.

Morans will take on Little Prince in the semi-finals. Masaku Sparks and Embya were the first to qualify for the play-off semi-finals after eliminating Gladiators and 4Christ on a 2-0 basis.