Quest for glory

By Eric Ochieng

Upper Hill School, which is one of the National Youth and Talent Academy Centre, will play at Menengai High School grounds on Saturday against Nakuru Club.

This will be one of the matches on card in the Kenya Basketball Federation national league. Upper Hill had beaten Africa Nazarene University (ANU) 85-34 last weekend while Nakuru club lost out 55-69 to Nairobi Aviation.

Coach Richard Kanda of Nakuru Club is hopeful his side will put an end to Upper Hill run at their backyard where they stand unbeaten this season.

Nairobi Aviation have a big task ahead as they come up against Parklands, who narrowly lost 51-54 to Embakasi Youth Basketball Association.  The match will be staged at Nyayo National Stadium.

United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) are now focused to take on Thunder in a match expected to be a thriller.

Confidence boost

USIU-A have regained confidence  after last weekend’s  victory of 79-75 over Premier League defending champions Co-op Bank. USIU-A women will also be tackling Sprite Storm in the women’s Premier League contest.

Mennonites, who are looking forward to meet wounded Co-op Bank, will have to open their attack valves at full speed if they are to succeed in their mission.

The Bankers are seeking the platform to redeem their image after USIU-A defeat. Mennonites will have to finish their weekend assignment against Thunder.

Western Delight is eyeing to reclaim its lost glory as they travel to Nairobi this weekend. The Kakamega-based side is in search for four vital points as they seek to exploit the chinks in Gladiators and Mennonites armoury in the women Premier League contests.

Big clash

Another match on the log this weekend pits Blazers against KCB Lions, who are apparently on the offence after tearing Kenya Ports Authority 65-34 in the latter’s backyard in Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa. World Hope will also be entertaining Umoja and ANU take on Kenya Airport Authority.

In the NBA competition (adds Reuters) Tampa Bay rookie starter Matt Moore fared better than his Toronto counterpart Drew Hutchison as the Rays blasted three home-runs in an 8-5 victory on Tuesday.

The Rays rocked 21-year-old Hutchison for six runs in four innings to take a 6-0 lead, then held on for the win despite some struggles from 22-year-old Moore on the mound.

Luke Scott ignited the home offense with a solo shot in the second inning, and Carlos Pena delivered a three-run homer in the fourth where Tampa Bay put five runs on the board.

It was a particularly big blow for Pena who was in the midst of an 0-for-18 slump and was moved from the middle of the line-up to leadoff in an effort to spark his bat.

“It’s very gratifying,” Pena told reporters. “The fact that we got three runs on that didn’t hurt. That’s why we hit, we love that feeling.”