Coach Ochieng purring as Strathmore end Ulinzi’s run
Eagle Wings' Lucy Machuma (right) dribbles ball past Storms' Becky Nkatha during their Kenya Basketball Federation women's Premier League match at USIU- A outdoor courts on May 19, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO |
What you need to know:
- Thunder, spearheaded by experienced guards Abel Nson and Griffins Ligare, started off their campaign with a 69-52 win over winless Trailblazers on Saturday.
- On Sunday, an energized Thunder side beat newly-promoted World Hope 54-38. Thunder, who had a good run in all the four quarters, led 25-20 at the breather.
- Trailblazers, who have lost all their four matches, had been beaten 34-64 by Kenya College of Accountancy University on Saturday.
Strathmore University Blades intensified their campaign for the Kenya Basketball Federation men’s Premier League title by ending Ulinzi Warrior’s unbeaten run in first leg matches played in Nairobi at the weekend.
Blades, who lost 1-3 to Kenya Ports Authority in last year’s best-of-five series play-offs final, beat Ulinzi Warriors 62-53 on Sunday at United States International University - Africa outdoor courts.
Blades, who have proven a force to reckon with this season, beat Ulinzi 3-1 in last year’s play-offs semi-finals.
Blades, who reached their first ever play-offs final last season, went on to lose 1-3 to Kenya Ports Authority, who used their home court advantage to reclaim the league title.
On Sunday, Blades head coach Tonny Ochieng rested his senior players, led by Peter Shilton and Emmanuel Soja and fielded youthful Ken Odwalo, Edgar Miheso and Mica Kiplagat, who disarmed the soldiers after going down 28-31 at the break.
Ulinzi Warriors, who had won three matches in a row, had their top point guards Eric Mutoro, Ben Mfutu and forward Ancette Wafula put into check by the speedy university students.
Blades surged in the third and fourth quarters in which they let Ulinzi Warriors 17-10 and 17-12 to carry the day.
Ulinzi Warriors had registered a third consecutive win by defeating hosts Tigers of the USIU-A 50-47 on Saturday.
Forward Wafula contributed game-high 16 points on Sunday, and Mutoro added 12. None of Blades players scored in double figures, with Brian Onyango shooting nine.
Blades coach Ochieng said: “We have a youthful full strong bench to rotate and after effectively working on zone defence in training, we knew the secret of punishing our opponents from their mistakes.’’
Ulinzi Warriors coach William Balozi said: “We started well, leading in two opening quarters but we left loopholes which our opponents capitalised on in the last two quarters to deny us victory.’’
Thunder maintained their good run, harvesting maximum four points from their two key first leg outings at the weekend.
Thunder, spearheaded by experienced guards Abel Nson and Griffins Ligare, started off their campaign with a 69-52 win over winless Trailblazers on Saturday.
On Sunday, an energized Thunder side beat newly-promoted World Hope 54-38. Thunder, who had a good run in all the four quarters, led 25-20 at the breather.
Trailblazers, who have lost all their four matches, had been beaten 34-64 by Kenya College of Accountancy University on Saturday.
