Umoja leap five places up on KBF standings

UoN Terror's Ziruel Gichana (left) and Gilbert Obiero of Umoja during a past KBF Premier League match at UoN Grounds. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Umoja Basketball showed that they mean business with a double victory that saw them move five places up on the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's Premier League table.

They are currently second on the log tied on nine points with former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), who are on top, and third placed Eldonets Platinum.

The three sides have won four matches and lost one.

Umoja were top gainers at the weekend after bagging maximum points against Equity Bank Dumas and former title holders Ulinzi Warriors. They beat Dumas 87-73 before crowning a successful weekend out with a 68-54 win against Warriors.

Victor Bosire and Job Byron top scored for Umoja with 12 points each with Derrick Olang complementing their effort with 11.

Warriors' Simon Rapudo was the match's top scorer with 14 points whereas John Washika, Brans Nzioka and Reagan Okere scored 10 points apiece for the soldiers who have now lost three out of five matches.

Defending champions Nairobi City Thunder, who are the only side with a perfect run, are fourth with eight points from four outings.

Warriors and National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Phoenix are fifth and sixth with seven points each from five outings. NBK Phoenix suffered their third loss of the season at the hands of Strathmore University Blades after going down 58-69.

United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Tigers, who have played one match, lead from the bottom with one point while Dumas are above them with three points from a win and a loss.

Blades, Stanbic Shields, African Nazarene University (ANU) Wolfpacks and University of Nairobi Terror are seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

In the women's Premier League contest, there were no changes in the top three despite league leaders Stanbic Aces, defending champions Equity Hawks. who are currently second and KPA not being in action.

Zetech University Sparks moved to fourth place following their resounding 79-39 victory against Storms. The victory also saw the students maintain their unbeaten run and remain on course to securing a playoffs slot.

Storms' woes continued as they remained winless in five games. They suffered a humiliating 91-38 defeat at the hands of Strathmore Swords.

Stanbic Aces top the table with seven points while Hawks, KPA, Sparks, Swords, Th3 Swish and Safe Spaces are placed second to seventh tied on six points.

Lakeside, who are seeking to secure their return to the Premier League, maintained their top spot in men's Division One despite suffering their first loss this season. They have 15 points from eight matches while ABSA are second with 12 from five wins and two losses.

Moischers and JKUAT Straycats are third and fourth with 11 points each whereas Snipers completes the top five with 10 points.

The unbeaten Zetech University Development side leads the women's Division One standings with 14 points, Lady Titans and Kisumu Lakeside are second and third with 13 and 12 points from seven encounters.