Basketball: Ulinzi Warriors bullish ahead of Blades KBF semifinal bout

Lakeside's Sila Awuor (right) dribbles past Ulinzi Warrior's Victor Bosire during KBF Premeir League match played in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Defending champions Ulinzi Warriors are confident of knocking out Strathmore’s Blades when they host the university side in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League semifinals playoffs match set to be staged at Nyayo Gymnasium on Saturday.

Speaking to the Standard Sports, Warriors Team Manager Stephen Bartilol said the team is focused towards starting the semifinals which will be played in the best of five series on the front foot to avoid a repeat of their quarterfinals mistakes.

Warriors were forced to dig deep last weekend during the quarterfinals against Kisumu Lakeside as they rallied to edge out the Nyanza based club 2-1 in the best of three quarters series.

Bartilol said the defeat against Lakeside was an eye opener that every team is strong and they have to play at their best in every game if they are to retain their title.

"We played a very tough quarters against Lakeside despite many seeing them as underdogs. The game one defeat in Kisumu was a lesson learnt and we are not going to make the same mistakes against Blades who are a formidable side."

"We are going to take each game at a time and work towards finishing the series in three games so that we have time to rest and recollect ahead of the finals," said Bartilol.

Blades cut down last season’s losing finalists Nairobi City Thunder after beating them 2-0 in the best of three quarter final series and in the process booking a date with Warriors.

Meanwhile, Bartilol has brushed off claims and allegations that Ulinzi Warriors fielded an ineligible player during their quarterfinals against Lakeside.

Warriors were trailing 1-0 ahead of last weekend's game two and three before the soldiers sprung back to life with the inclusion of Kenya Moran's star Valentine Nyakinda.

Nyakinda was instrumental for the defending champions who won game two 77-57 to tie the series at 1-1 before proceeding to the semifinals with a victory in game three.

"I want to call upon individuals claiming Nyakinda was not eligible to play to file a petition at the federation. Nyakinda played more than five matches during regular season surpassing the required three which makes him available during the playoffs," said the team manager.

Upon reaching for a comment from Lakeside, the clubs management said they have not filed a complaint with KBF.

In the other semifinal match, Equity Banks will renew rivalry with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men.

KBF Premier League Semifinals Playoffs

Men

Ulinzi v Blades-2pm, Nyayo

KPA V Equity-4pm, Nyayo