Ulinzi Warriors chase basketball league top place
What you need to know:
- Ulinzi are left with two matches to conclude the regular season, against Lions on Sunday and later versus champions KPA in Nairobi.
Ulinzi Warriors enhanced their chances of finishing top of the table in the Kenya Basketball Federation men’s Premier League regular season after registering a 66-47 victory over Thunder in their return leg match at Strathmore University, Madakara on Saturday.
Ulinzi, who increased their points tally to 37 from 17 wins and three losses, are left with two matches to conclude the regular season, against Lions on Sunday and later versus champions KPA in Nairobi.
Ulinzi Warriors coach William Balozi said: “I rested my top players to save their energy for Lions, a game we need to win to finish in first position. We beat KPA by over 20 points in Mombasa and they have a tall order of erasing the huge margin in Nairobi to challenge us for first position."
Thunder, who were left in a tight situation to scoop the eighth position to qualify for the play-offs, had their experienced shooting guard Griffins Ligare threatening the experienced soldiers with two superb three-pointers inside the opening two minutes.
Team-mate Nathan Terry also gave Thunder hopes of defying forward Ancette Wafula’s eight-point run for Ulinzi Warriors. Thunder shocked Ulinzi with a narrow 15-14 first quarter lead.
Ulinzi returned breathing fire with aggressive forward Ancette Wafula, Joseph Owino and Eric Mutoro - who was later rested - dropping three-pointer shots which left Thunder in total panic.
Ulinzi raced a huge 22-8 second quarter advantage and ended up with a 36-23 half-time lead. Thunder, who had no coach, had little to offer even after referees Stanley Ndichu and Juma Kent ejected Ulinzi’s forward Joseph Ngochi. Ulinzi comfortably went up 13-9 and 23-15 in the last two quarters.
Forward Wafula led Ulinzi with a game high 18 points, Joseph Owino hit 13 and David Ouma 10. Thunder replied with 17 points through Griffins Ligare, the only player to post double figures.
SUMMARISED RESULTS
Ulinzi Warriors 66-47 Thunder, World Hope 84-51 Eldonets, Blazers 55-51 MKU Thika.
FIXTURES
Sunday
Strathmore University v Lakeside (8.30am), Masaku Sparks v ANU (10am), Ulinzi Warriors v Lions (1pm), USIU-A Tigers v Umoja (2.30pm), KCA-U v Co-op Bank (4pm).
