Ulinzi eye sweep into playoff semis

After narrowly missing out on a place in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) playoff last four last year, Ulinzi Warriors have a chance to make amends when they host Lakeside this in Game Two of their semi-finals clash.

Ulinzi, who topped the regular season, edged Lakeside 80-78 in the opening match of their three-game series last week in Kisumu and only need one more victory on Saturday to book a place in the last four.

Ulinzi captain John Washika, who is an injury doubt for the weekend clash, is confident that they will see out Lakeside without requiring to go the full length of the series.

“We have prepared well and ready to utilize the home court advantage. We are planning to finish the series on Saturday,” Washika said.

In another encounter, newcomers Eldonets will hope they can continue with their magnificent performance as they travel to Nairobi to face Thunder in the Game Two and Three on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The Eldoret-based club shocked last year’s semi-finalists Thunder when they hammered them 63-53 in quarter final playoffs Game One.

Eldonets fished the regular league with 31 points, at position seven while Thunder finished second with 41 points.

If Eldonets wins their Game Two on Saturday, they will qualify to semis and if Thunder wins they will be forced to play their Game Three on Sunday to determine who goes to semis.

Elsewhere, Equity Bank men team who finished third in the regular league with 39 points will be facing EMYBA who finished sixth with 32 points in Game One on Friday at Nyayo Gymnasium. The Game Two and Three will be played the following weekend.

In the women Premier League, USIU will be winding up their regular league matches as they play Strathmore on Saturday and Zetech on Sunday at Nyayo Gymnasium while defending champions Equity bank who just came in the concluded African Zone Five Championship will be winding up against Strathmore on Sunday before they can proceed to playoffs the following weekend.

Weekend Fixtures

EMYBA VS Equity Bank- 7:30 PM- Nyayo- Friday 1st Nov 2019

Saturday 2nd Nov 2019 at Nyayo Gymnasium

Ulinzi VS Lakeside- 4:00 PM- G2

Thunder VS Eldonets- 5:30 PM- G2

Sunday 3rd Nov 2019- Nyayo Gymnasium

Ulinzi VS Lakeside- 4:00 PM- G3

Thunder VS Eldonets- 5:30 PM- G3

Women Premier League- Nyayo Gymnasium

USIU VS Strathmore- on Saturday – 2:30 PM

USIU VS Zetech- Sunday- 1:00 PM

Equity Bank VS Strathomore- Sunday- 2:30 PM