KPA, Ulinzi seek history in play-off finals
What you need to know:
- In the women’s division one final, University of Nairobi’s Dynamites take on Africa Nazarene University. KPA men’s team retained their Premier League title for the second year in a row by beating Blades 3-1 in the 2017 play-offs final.
- The dockers will be fighting to emulate Posta, Co-op Bank, KCB Lions and Ulinzi Warriors, who have won the championship for more than three consecutive years.
Kenya Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League champions Kenya Ports Authority will be seeking to become the fifth team to retain the title for third time in a row as the 2018 play-off finals get underway in Nairobi this weekend.
The dockers will lock horns with rivals Ulinzi Warriors in Game One of the best-of-five series final at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium on Saturday from 4pm, with Game two set for Sunday at the same venue.
In Division one, Eldonets will host Emyba in Game One and Two on Saturday and Sunday in Eldoret, while in the men’s division two final, Kenya Airports Authority meet Blazers at Nyayo.
The women’s Premier League semi-finals will also take centre stage as champions KPA travel to Nairobi for Game one and two to tackle red-hot Storms. The other last four encounter will see former champions Equity Hawks up against Strathmore University Swords.
In the women’s division one final, University of Nairobi’s Dynamites take on Africa Nazarene University. KPA men’s team retained their Premier League title for the second year in a row by beating Blades 3-1 in the 2017 play-offs final.
The dockers will be fighting to emulate Posta, Co-op Bank, KCB Lions and Ulinzi Warriors, who have won the championship for more than three consecutive years.
Posta, now disbanded, had won three straight league titles between 1992 to 1994, while Co-op Bank won it four times from 1995 to 1998. Ulinzi Warriors clinched the gong five times (2002-2006) and KCB Lions won it thrice from 2007 to 2009.
Having fought from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Thunder in the semi-finals, Ulinzi Warriors are aiming to become the first team to win the league title a record eight times. They will be seeking revenge after losing to KPA in last year’s semi-finals.
Ulinzi Warriors' long-serving coach William Balozi said they had trained hard and will be boosted by the return of powerful forward Richard Osano, who will team up with the on-form William Ochieng, shooting guard Eric Mutoro, Joseph Owino, John Washika and Antonio Bwire.
“I’m happy with the series draw because we play three away matches in Mombasa where we have beaten KPA before,” said Balozi.
His KPA counterpart Sammy Kiki expects a tough encounter, but is optimistic they can get a good start.
”It’s going to be a tough game considering that Ulinzi and KPA are top sides. I have worked on my defence and offense and if we play according to plan, we will emerge winners,” said Kiki. KPA eliminated Strathmore Blades 3-1 in the semi-finals.
FIXTURES:
Saturday : At Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium: KAA v Pirates (9am), ANU v Dynamites (10.30am), Storms v KPA (12pm), Equity Bank v Strathmore University (2pm), Ulinzi Warriors v KPA (4pm).
In Eldoret: Eldonets v Emyba (9am).
