The defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men and women’s teams secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Kenya Basketball Federation play-offs over the weekend, at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.
The KPA men’s team will face off against Thunder in Game One and Two of the semi-finals away at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday and Sunday respectively. If there is a tie, Game Three, Four and Five will be held at KPA Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa starting on May 27.
Meanwhile, the Ulinzi Warriors will take on their rivals Equity Dumas in Game One on Friday at Nyayo from 8 pm, with Game Two scheduled for Saturday at the same time.
On the women’s side, the KPA women’s team will play against Strathmore University Swords, with Game One and Two set for Saturday and Sunday at Nyayo.
If necessary, the remaining three matches of the best-of-five series will be held at KPA Makande Gymnasium from May 27. Equity Hawks will also face off against Zetech Sparks in their semi-final with Game One starting on Friday at 6 pm, while Game Two will be held on Sunday at the same time.
All eight teams had an easy run in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, eliminating their opponents after registering two straight victories. The KPA men’s and women’s teams were the first to qualify for the semi-finals, with the dockmen knocking out Pirates 2-0 and the women’s champions eliminating Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Lynx 2-0.
KPA rocked Pirates 80-62 in Game One at Nyayo and finished their business with a 54-36 win in Game Two in Mombasa. On the other hand, the women’s champions KPA humiliated JKUAT Lynx 96-24 in Game One at Nyayo before they were awarded a 20-0 win against the varsity students who failed to show up for Game Two in Mombasa.
Equity Dumas sent Terrorists packing 2-0 after winning Game One 87-68 followed with a huge 74-64 victory in Game Two.
Thunder were too smart for rivals Strathmore University Blades, beating the varsity students 64-57 in Game One before wrapping up the series with a narrow 62-61 victory in Game Two to advance.
Ulinzi Warriors eliminated Eldonets Plantinum after winning Game Two 63-48, having registered a 72-60 victory in their opener away in Eldoret.
In women’s Premier League, veteran Betty Kananu scored 20 points, Rachel Akinyi had 16 and Annerose Mandela 10 as Equity Hawks destroyed Dynamites 80-27 in Game Two on Sunday.
Coach Morris Obilo’s Zetech Sparks celebrated an 83-42 victory over Africa Nazarene University Panthers in Game Two on Sunday to qualify for the semi. Zetech Sparks had beaten ANU Panthers hands down 85-31 in Game One.
Strathmore Swords sailed through to the semi-finals after dispatching Storms 49-40 in Game Two on Sunday, having made a good start winning Game One 45-29.
In the men’s Division Two, National Bank earned a ticket to the semi-finals after a 2-1 win, silencing Congo Nets 75-46 in the deciding Game Three.
Stanbic Shield also secured a place in the men’s Division Two semi-finals following their 2-0 victory over Little Prince in two matches. In the women’s Division One, Strathmore Swords team Two advanced to the semi-finals after demolishing Scarlet 63-50 in Game One.
Similarly, Zetech Development secures a semi-final spot in women’s Division Two playoffs as KCA-U forfeits Game Two.
