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Ulinzi Warriors ready to shoot down Lakeside in Kisumu

KPA warm down.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Defending champions Ulinzi Warriors are looking forward to brush aside Lakeside Basketball Club when they travel to play them in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League quarterfinals playoffs match set to be staged at Manyatta Arabs in Kisumu on Saturday.

Playoffs for the Women’s Premier League will also tip off alongside the Division One leagues as the local basketball league resumes after a four-week break with the men’s league the highlight of the weekend in the quarterfinals set to be played in best of three format kick off.

The play-offs were postponed last year after the end of regular season to allow three top clubs; Ulinzi Warriors, Kenya Ports Authority and Equity Bank women's teams to represent Kenya in Fiba-Africa Club Championships without interruption.

Coach William Balozi's Ulinzi finished top in the regular season with 42 points from 20 wins and two losses.

The Kisumu based club finished eighth in the regular season after a tough season occasioned by sudden Covid-19 stoppages and also financial constraints but Oketch is upbeat about weathering the soldiers force.

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During the regular season, Lakeside shocked Ulinzi Warriors 61-58 in the first leg at home and the soldiers are looking forward for a tough match.

Speaking to the Standard Sports, Balozi said they will be ready this time round for the Lake Victoria based side.

“Lakeside is a very strong team who have shown that they can go toe to toe with big clubs and they are not a joke to play with. However, as champions we have the talent to win us such games and we are looking set to give our all on Saturday,” said Balozi.

Lakeside head coach Dismas Oketch on the other side is fancying their playoffs chances ahead of their match against defending champions Ulinzi Stars to be played at today.

“The team has prepared well and ready to host the defending champions. Ulinzi is a good side with national team players and fresh from the Basketball African League (BAL).

“Having won a game against them during the regular season the lads are psyched. Lakeside is a young team and we will bank on our athletism as we go into the playoffs,” said Oketch.

KPA men's team will Saturday start their quest to reclaim the title they last won in 2018 against Eldonets in Game One at Uasin Gishu Primary in Eldoret.

Thunder will face Strathmore Blades while Equity Bank men's side will tackle University of Nairobi's Terrorists.

KBF Playoffs Saturday Fixtures

Equity Bank v Terrorists (4pm)-Nyayo

Lakeside v Ulinzi Warriors (4pm)-Manyatta in Kisumu

Eldonets v KPA (4pm)-Uasin Gishu Primary- Eldoret