Defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Zetech Sparks, and Equity Dumas are making significant strides towards securing their spots in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League play-offs final.
All three teams emerged victorious with 2-0 wins in the best-of-five series play-offs semi-final ties held at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium over the weekend.
Equity, vying for their maiden Premier League title, showcased their strength by defeating the seasoned Ulinzi Warriors in both men’s semi-finals Game One and Two.
Led by coach Carey Oketch, Equity Dumas triumphed over the Ulinzi Warriors with a score of 69-58 in Game One on Friday night and followed up with a 73-66 victory in Game Two on Saturday, claiming a commanding 2-0 lead.
KPA, aiming for their 14th crown in the women’s league, demonstrated their dominance as they convincingly dismantled coach Ronnie Owino’s Strathmore University Swords.
In Game One, KPA ruthlessly punished Strathmore with a resounding 78-37 win on Saturday. They continued their dominance in Game Two the following day, overwhelming the university students with a decisive 72-39 victory.
Meanwhile, Zetech Sparks showcased their prowess by inflicting a humiliating defeat on former champions Equity Hawks in the women’s game.
The youthful Zetech players secured a 75-72 victory in Game One on Friday and followed it up with an impressive 73-57 triumph in Game Two on Saturday, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead.
In the upcoming matches, Zetech Sparks, coached by Morris Obi, will face a decisive Game Three against Equity Hawks on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium. Equity Hawks, led by the experienced Sylvia Njeri, must secure a victory in Game Three to narrow the series to 2-1 and keep their chances alive.
In the men’s Premier League semi-finals, Equity Dumas showcased their strength by dominating Ulinzi Warriors in both matches.
In Game Two, despite a stellar performance by Ulinzi’s Eric Mutoro, who scored a game-high 31 points, Ulinzi suffered a 73-66 defeat against a well-prepared Equity Dumas side. Victor Bosire led the charge for Equity with 23 points, supported by James Mwangi who contributed 13 points.
In another thrilling encounter, Thunder made a remarkable comeback after trailing 1-0 to secure a hard-fought 73-71 victory against defending champions KPA in an explosive semi-final Game Two tie.
Guard Griffins Ligare poured in 31 points, while Thomas Kioko added 20 points to seal the win for Thunder. The series between Thunder and KPA is now tied at 1-1, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the upcoming matches.
