Battle for top eight slots intensify as end of the first leg of KBF league nears
Basketball
By
Elizabeth Mburugu
| Feb 15, 2025
Reigning Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League champions Nairobi City Thunder will be out to maintain their unbeaten run and return to the top of the standings this weekend.
Thunder will today take on United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Tigers at Nyayo Gymnasium in hunt of their seventh win of the season.
Inspired by their recent partnership with Turaco Insurance, Thunder will be looking to make it eight wins out of eight when they play University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror tomorrow.
They are currently third with 12 points from six outings, three less than leaders and former titleholders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) who have played eight matches.
Thunder team manager Bernet Ojay said that they are determined to maintain a good run even as they prepare for their Basketball Africa League (BAL) debut.
“Every match is crucial because it’s part of our preparations for BAL. The sponsorship by Turaco Insurance is timely and adds value to our campaign and also shows that we are doing something right and more corporate are willing to partner with us,” Ojay said.
Second-placed Eldonets Platinum will entertain Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Wolfpacks at their Eldoret backyard today. Platinum, who have 13 points from five wins and three losses, will have everything to play for as they seek to consolidate their place in the top three.
National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Phoenix and Stanbic Shields will square it out today in the battle of the bankers.
Tomorrow, former champions Ulinzi Warriors, who had a shaky start to the season, will tackle USIU-A Tigers in hunt for their fourth win. Stanbic Shields and Ulinzi Warriors are tied on nine points while NBK Phoenix have eight points.
In the women’s title chase, unbeaten Strathmore University Swords, Zetech University Sparks and USIU-A Flames will be out to maintain their flawless run.
Swords, who are third on the log, will take on UoN Dynamites and Flames today and tomorrow respectively. Zetech Sparks, who are eighth with six points on the other hand, will play second-placed Stanbic Aces in their first weekend tie before tackling Dynamites tomorrow.
Winless ANU Panthers and Storms will chase their first wins of the season today. Eldonets ladies will entertain Panthers at Uasin Gishu High School while Storms will be hoping to dim Flames at Nyayo. Though undefeated, Flames are at the bottom of the table with two points having played one match only.
Storms, who are a pale shadow of their former selves, and Panthers are 10th and 11th but tied on five points from five matches. Dynamites, who are also struggling, will be hoping to outclass their Strathmore and Zetech counterparts in order to move into the top eight and enhance their chances of sealing a playoffs slot.