Flawless Thunder take the league battle to KPA dockers

Nana Appiah of Nairobi City Thunder in action against NBK Phoenix during their Kenya Basketball Federation League match at Nyayo Gymnasium stadium on May 10. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Champions Nairobi City Thunder will be out to extend their unbeaten run when they take on former titleholders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) today in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League match at Makande Hall, Mombasa.

Thunder, who bagged their maiden trophy last season, will be out to maintain their impressive record against the dockers, who they stripped of the crown.

They dominated KPA last season, beating them in all their encounters, including the final play-offs best of five challenge that they won 3-0. Thunder overpowered KPA 80-73 in their first leg tie played at Nyayo and will be looking to complete a double today away in Mombasa.

The dockers, who are yearning to reclaim their title, will square off with Ulinzi Warriors in the battle of former champions tomorrow. The top-of-the-bill clash will determine if either of the sides will finish the regular season second behind Thunder.

At Nyayo, Strathmore University Blades and United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Tigers, who face a relegation threat, will today intensify their fight for survival.

The two sides are among teams staring at demotion and must win to revive their hopes of maintaining their Premier League slots. Blades, who have been struggling throughout the season, will tomorrow play Stanbic Shields.

In other matches lined up for today, Equity Bank Dumas will tackle University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror, while African Nazarene University (ANU) Wolfpacks will take on Eldonets Platinum.

Tomorrow, Platinum will face off with National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Phoenix, who are also fighting to avoid relegation. Premier League debutants Phoenix risk returning to the lower tier if they lose their remaining encounters. Umoja Basketball Club, who are eyeing a great regular season finish, will play ANU Wolfpacks.

In the Women’s Premier League, former champions KPA will host Th3 Swish and Division One bound Storms. The dockers who have higher chances of finishing on top of the table will be out to secure maximum points against the two sides. Th3 Swish on the other hand, will be out to improve their chances of sealing a play-offs slot, whereas Storms will be chasing their first win.

ANU Panthers will intensify their campaign against demotion when they play Safe Spaces today and UoN Dynamites tomorrow.

Panthers, who struggled during the first leg, have since recovered and are on the path to maintaining their Premier League slot. Dynamites will play 2025 league winners USIU-A Flames today.

 Eldonets Ladies, who risk demotion if they don’t start winning, will today entertain Zetech University Sparks, who are assured of a place in the quarter-finals play-offs at Uasin Gishu High School, Eldoret. Stanbic Aces, who humbled reigning champions Equity Bank Hawks last weekend, will lock horns with Strathmore Swords tomorrow.

Several men and women Division One and Men’s Division Two matches are also on the cards this weekend.