30 September 2006
KENYA : Warriors target bankers
Story by CAXTON APOLLO
National basketball league champions Ulinzi Warriors will be out to maintain their unbeaten record when they tackle Kenya Commercial Bank Lions at Nyayo National Stadium from 4pm.
Ulinzi Warriors was awarded their first leg tie on a 20-0 basis after Lions walked out of the court in protest at the poor officiating. Today, the soldiers, who have won all their 13 matches, will start as favourites to win and keep their scoresheet clean.
But, the match is a mere formality for Ulinzi, who are assured of finishing top in the eight-team competition to qualify for the post-season four-team play-offs semi-finals. Lions, who went down fighting 78-76 to USIU-A Tigers last weekend badly need the two points to finish in third position.The bankers have collected 21 points from nine wins and four loses.
As usual, Ulinzi’s much-improved forward Vincent Ambani, Ancette Wafula, Tom Opar and John Apollo are expected to give Lions a run for their money. But, the Eastleigh-based army men should not underrate the bankers whose experienced players Ikapian Juma, Greg Odera and Tobias Onyango can rise to the occasion to break their unbeaten record.
In another men’s top match, Gitau Waringo’s Kenyatta University Pirates will take on International Christian Centre in a tie that has no significance in the race for the play-offs.
Pirates have 17 points from five wins and seven losses which automatically throws them out of the running.
ICC on the other hand, are threatened with relegation after winning only one match from 12 outings and any upset to the varsity lads will not make much difference. In the Division One league category, Telkom return to the court to complete their pre-season programme against Strathmore University.
After having harvested the maximum four points last weekend, Telkom are already through to the play-offs. Telkom beat Kisumu Lakeside before registering a narrow 93-92 win over Java Warriors.
Strathmore, who have also lost five matches, will battle strongly in order to bid good-bye to the pre-season on a winning note to qualify for the prestigious play-offs. Lomboritz will take on bottom placed Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Tomorrow, the high-riding George Mayienga Tigers of the USIU-A will be in Nakuru to meet Nakuru Club at Menengai High School from 4pm. Tigers rocked Lions 78-76 to qualify for the play-offs but it remain while an certain whether the Nakuru club will honour the fixture after skipping two matches in a row in Nairobi.
Mennonites face stubborn Java Warriors in a match they must win to sail into the play-offs. Mennonites have 24 points from six loses while Java, who slipped 93-92 against Telkom have dropped four points.
National basketball league champions Ulinzi Warriors will be out to maintain their unbeaten record when they tackle Kenya Commercial Bank Lions at Nyayo National Stadium from 4pm.
Ulinzi Warriors was awarded their first leg tie on a 20-0 basis after Lions walked out of the court in protest at the poor officiating. Today, the soldiers, who have won all their 13 matches, will start as favourites to win and keep their scoresheet clean.
But, the match is a mere formality for Ulinzi, who are assured of finishing top in the eight-team competition to qualify for the post-season four-team play-offs semi-finals. Lions, who went down fighting 78-76 to USIU-A Tigers last weekend badly need the two points to finish in third position.The bankers have collected 21 points from nine wins and four loses.
As usual, Ulinzi’s much-improved forward Vincent Ambani, Ancette Wafula, Tom Opar and John Apollo are expected to give Lions a run for their money. But, the Eastleigh-based army men should not underrate the bankers whose experienced players Ikapian Juma, Greg Odera and Tobias Onyango can rise to the occasion to break their unbeaten record.
In another men’s top match, Gitau Waringo’s Kenyatta University Pirates will take on International Christian Centre in a tie that has no significance in the race for the play-offs.
Pirates have 17 points from five wins and seven losses which automatically throws them out of the running.
ICC on the other hand, are threatened with relegation after winning only one match from 12 outings and any upset to the varsity lads will not make much difference. In the Division One league category, Telkom return to the court to complete their pre-season programme against Strathmore University.
After having harvested the maximum four points last weekend, Telkom are already through to the play-offs. Telkom beat Kisumu Lakeside before registering a narrow 93-92 win over Java Warriors.
Strathmore, who have also lost five matches, will battle strongly in order to bid good-bye to the pre-season on a winning note to qualify for the prestigious play-offs. Lomboritz will take on bottom placed Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Tomorrow, the high-riding George Mayienga Tigers of the USIU-A will be in Nakuru to meet Nakuru Club at Menengai High School from 4pm. Tigers rocked Lions 78-76 to qualify for the play-offs but it remain while an certain whether the Nakuru club will honour the fixture after skipping two matches in a row in Nairobi.
Mennonites face stubborn Java Warriors in a match they must win to sail into the play-offs. Mennonites have 24 points from six loses while Java, who slipped 93-92 against Telkom have dropped four points.
# posted by afrbk : 11:01
