Thunder strike Equity to book playoff semis spot

Thunder's Griffith Ligare (left) dribbles past Equity Bank's Titus Musembi during their Kenya Basketball Federation men's Premier league playoff quarter-final Game- One at Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Gymnasium on November 4, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • In the second semi-final, champions KPA will renew rivalry with last year’s finalists Blades at the same venue starting 4.30pm. KPA beat Blades 3-1 in the best-of-five-series final to lift the title last year

  • Equity Bank coach Carrey Oketch, formerly with Co-operative Bank, showed his tactical acumen to effectively rotate his bench for a 13-10 result in their favour at end of the third quarter

  • Thunder, led by Kevin Chogo who scored 22 points and Griffins Ligare scorer of game-high 23, turned the heat on the bankers hitting them 20-13 in the fourth quarter to proceed to the semi-finals. Nate had 11 points while Michael Munene and Alex Lugasi shot 13 and 11 respectively for Equity Bank

Thunder booked the remaining Kenya Basketball Federation men’s Premier League playoff semi-finals slot after knocking out rivals Equity Bank 79-58 in the decisive quarter-final Game Three at Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Gymnasium on Tuesday.

Thunder qualified on a 2-1 basis after both teams had tied the best-of-three series 1-1 in Game One and Two. To break the tie, both sides clashed in Game Three to determine who joins champions Kenya Ports Authority, Ulinzi Warriors and Strathmore University’s Blades in the semi-finals.

Thunder will now take on rivals Ulinzi Warriors, who eliminated them in the quarter-final stage last year, in the semi-final. The semi-final Game One will be played at Nyayo on Saturday from 3pm.

In the second semi-final, champions KPA will renew rivalry with last year’s finalists Blades at the same venue starting 4.30pm. KPA beat Blades 3-1 in the best-of-five-series final to lift the title last year.

Thunder, who had beaten Equity Bank 70-59 in Game One before the Bankers levelled with a 71-61 win in Game Two last Saturday, got off to a bright start in Game Three with guard Nate Terry and Faheem Juma firing critical three-pointers. No-nonsense forward Kevin Chogo did not spare Equity Bank either nailing nine points with guard Griffins Ligare at his usual best for a 31-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Equity Bank, who finished sixth in the regular season on 31 points, did not relent as forward Felix Odhiambo combined with Jack Agunda to reduce the deficit. The duo’s experience yielded fruit as Equity outscored Thunder 20-18 at the end of second quarter. Thunder still led 49-32 lead at the breather.

Equity Bank coach Carrey Oketch, formerly with Co-operative Bank, showed his tactical acumen to effectively rotate his bench for a 13-10 result in their favour at end of the third quarter.

Thunder, led by Kevin Chogo who scored 22 points and Griffins Ligare scorer of game-high 23, turned the heat on the bankers hitting them 20-13 in the fourth quarter to proceed to the semi-finals. Nate had 11 points while Michael Munene and Alex Lugasi shot 13 and 11 respectively for Equity Bank.

In the women’s Premier League, champions Kenya Ports Authority and Fiba Africa Zone V champions Equity Bank, who are both in Maputo to represent Kenya in the Fiba Africa Club Championships, and Storms have already qualified for the semi-finals. Strathmore University’s Swords will meet Zetech University in Game Three on Sunday to determine who takes the remaining slot.

Meanwhile, Emyba and Eldonets qualified for the men’s Division One league playoff semi-finals after eliminating their opponents 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Emyba defeated Nakuru Club 61-53 in Game Three while Eldonets used their home court advantage to dispatch Barclays Bank 83-67 in Game Three. Both teams had tied 1-1 in their closely contested quarter-finals Game One and Two.

Emyba will meet University of Nairobi’s Terrorists in the semi-final while Eldonets will square it out with Kenyatta University's Pirates as they seek promotion to the 2019 men’s Premier League.

In the men’s Division Two playoff semi-finals, Riara University, who shut out Coastal Kings 2-1, will take on Kenya Airports Authority while Little Prince meet Blazers. Little Prince defeated Nebulas-Kakamega 2-0 while Blazers hit Mombasa-based Baobab 2-1. Blazers carried the day by winning Game Three 75-64.

The teams that qualify for the final will earn promotion to the next year’s men’s Division One League.