The Ulinzi Warriors, former champions, displayed their experience as they fought back from a challenging start to defeat the University of Nairobi’s ‘Terrorists’ with a final score of 54-33. This win marked their second victory in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League.
During the first half, the soldiers struggled and trailed 23-17 at halftime, especially due to an exceptionally low-scoring second quarter.
Despite missing their captain, Eric Mutoro, who is sidelined with a long-term injury from tearing his Achilles tendon during training, the Ulinzi team, with many of its seasoned players retired, initially had difficulty keeping pace with the youthful University side.
Head coach Bernard Mufutu expressed his concern about the team’s performance. He acknowledged the slow start and the need for improvement, particularly on the offensive front.
He also highlighted their challenges with free throws, calling on his players to enhance their mental resilience in such situations.
The game saw Brans Nzioka leading the scoring for the Ulinzi Warriors with 13 points, contributing significantly to their comeback. Meanwhile, Malcolm Ajuly was the top scorer for the University of Nairobi, managing 10 points.
The first quarter saw both teams locked in a see-saw battle, with the scores tied at 13 apiece. However, in the second quarter, Ulinzi experienced a sharp decline in performance, struggling to score in the paint and underperforming at the free-throw line.
They managed to secure only four points during the entire 10 minutes, while their opponents from the University of Nairobi scored 10 points, resulting in a half-time score of 23-17 and a six-point gap.
In the third quarter, Ulinzi intensified their efforts, with Nzioka taking charge of the offence effectively. Despite missing a free throw opportunity, the Ulinzi Warriors closed the gap to three points, with the score at 26-23.
The fourth quarter witnessed a dynamic start from Ulinzi as they embarked on a 5-0 scoring run. University of Nairobi’s bench called a timeout to halt their momentum, but the soldiers continued to dominate, ultimately securing the victory.
Their next match is against another university side, Kenyatta University and Coach Mufutu acknowledged the upcoming challenge. He expressed the team’s intention to make adjustments and assess their performance ahead of the game.
“We will assess the team and make some changes. We expect another tough game because KU is a good side and much improved. We will also make some adjustments and hopefully come out on top,” Coach Mufutu stated.
