Defending champions KPA ready for KBF semifinal playoffs

KPA's Job Ayodi, Martin Matonglo(center) and John Wijas during warm down before a KBF Premeir League match in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Kenya Ports Authority men and women teams are confident of a positive start ahead of their two Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League semi-finals play-offs away at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday.

KPA women will face off against Strathmore University Swords from 4pm before their men counterparts take on Thunder in the late night fixture from 8pm.

On Sunday, the ladies will renew their rivalry once again with Strathmore Swords in Game Two at 2pm before KPA men tackle Thunder in Game Two from 8pm once again.

Speaking ahead of the semis, KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu said they are more than ready to face their rivals.

The former Kenya Morans international said their target is to win atleast one game away from home so that they can complete the job back in Mombasa.

"We shall not underrate any team despite being defending champions," said Ojukwu.

"Play-offs are different. Everyone is always prepared and we have no small team at this stage. That is why we have been training very hard the past few weeks to enable us adapt and also rectify some of our mistakes we made in the quarters."

KPA's Carol Onyango in action against Eagle wings during the KBF Women League match at the Nyayo National Gym. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

KPA women finished the regular season unbeaten in 22 matches. The dockers easily eliminated Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Lynx 2-0 in the best-of-three series play-offs quarter-finals to qualify for the semis.

KPA men on the other hand knocked out Kenyatta University's Pirates 2-0. They will face Thunder more confidently after having dispatched them 69-51 in the first leg during the regular season and went on to win the second leg at their backyard.

In the regular season, KPA men finished top of the table with 42 points. They lost two matches only, winning 20.

KBF Premier League semis playoffs

Saturday

Strathmore Swords v KPA- 4pm

Thunder v KPA- 6pm

Ulinzi Warriors v Equity Dumas-8pm

Sunday

Strathmore Swords v KPA- 4pm

Equity Hawks v Zetech Sparks- 6pm

Thunder v KPA- 8pm