Basketball: Ulinzi Warriors have KBF title in crosshairs

KENYA BASKETBALL LEAGUE Ulinzi's Tiberius Menya (left) and Fidel Muga of Coop Bank during Kenya Basketball League at Strathmore University, Sept 24, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Former champions Ulinzi Warriors showed intentions to reclaim the Kenya Basketball Federation league as they staged a good show in the national play-offs last weekend.

They beat Nairobi City Thunder 74-70 and 75-56 to win Match One and Two respectively in the play-offs at Africa Nazarene University grounds.

The two wins, which were their best-of-three series, pushed Ulinzi into semis and they will meet winners in the match pitting United States International University (USIU) and Blades.

USIU and Blades stand in a 1-1 stalemate, which is expected to be unlocked in Match Three set for this weekend.

William Balozi, Ulinzi’s head coach, said his players’ brilliance is a testimony that they are out to reclaim the title and return to regional competitions next season.

Train my players

“My boys have made me proud, but we still have an uphill task to win the league.  

 “I have noted with great concern that the rims at the Africa Nazarene University are tricky and the only way to beat them is to train my players to square-up and shoot in the perimeter,” Balozi said. Woodley Knights won this year’s Nairobi Basketball Association champions after they beat Mustangs 73-72 in a tense but exciting Match Six encounter.

Woodley Knights won 4-2 in the best-of-seven series as they got off the blocks early, taking a 17-12 advantage in the first quarter as the losers struggled for an early grip.

Mustangs rallied to take the second quarter 15-13 and staged a strong 21-14 edge in the third quarter. But as Woodley Knights misfired, the losers had a slight edge until Daviel Ouma knocked down a last gasp three pointer (his second of the day) to force a 65-65 deadlock in regular time. Woodley Knights summoned little energy to win 8-7 and earned their maiden NBA title.

Meanwhile Zetech University men’s basketball team produced brilliant showing at the Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) league at Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, last weekend.

Zetech Titans thrashed Machakos University 47-29 before outclassing Pioneer International College (Nairobi) 44-24. They also won 43-26 against Multi Media University. [Standard Sports]