Why KBF dismissed Blades' appeal

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) has dismissed an appeal by Strathmore University Blades protesting champions Kenya Ports Authority’s 54-50 victory in their men’s Premier League play-offs semi-final Game Four match in Mombasa last weekend.

KBF Fixtures Secretary Joseph Amoko said Blades' allegations of biased officiating do not hold water because the dockers were leading comfortably with four points in the last two seconds.

KPA won Game Four of the best-of-five series 54-50 to qualify for the play-offs final after a 3-1 win.

“It was impossible for Blades to win because they were trailing with four points (54-50) in the last two seconds," said Amoko.

Amoko said the men’s Premier League play-offs final fixture will go on as arranged without interruption, where KPA will take on Ulinzi Warriors.

Game One and Two will be played on Saturday and Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium from 4pm. Action will later shift to KPA Makande Gymnasium for Game Three, Four and Five in case of a 2-2 tie from December 8.

He said that Blades should now prepare for their third place play-off match against Thunder. Thunder threw away a 2-0 lead to loss 2-3 to Ulinzi Warriors in the semi-final.

Blades coach Tony Ochieng said they had called a time-out when KPA was leading 50-52, but the referee Charles Omwenga, who he claimed was biased, never gave them a  chance to utilize.

Ochieng said it is unfair to release play-off final fixtures, when a team has filed a protest pending hearing.

"We are still waiting for an official communication from the federation after having followed the right procedure to protest the match result," said Ochieng.

He said Ulinzi Warriors scored a winning basket against Thunder 93-91 with three seconds left and it would not have been impossible for Blades to win had the referee not blundered with his suspicious calls and denying them the right to utilize their time out.