Sprite Storms Valarie Okeyo (left) during a match in 2013. Co-op Bank who finished sixth in 2013 women’s competition will take on Sprite Storms Sunday from 2pm at Nyayo Stadium gymnasium. PHOTO/FILE 
By CAXTON APOLLO
This year’s women’s basketball Premier League and men’s Division One competition will enter the third week with 13 matches spread out in Kisumu, Kakamega, Eldoret and Nairobi this weekend.
Co-op Bank who finished sixth in last year’s women’s competition will take on Sprite Storms Sunday from 2pm at Nyayo Stadium gymnasium.
Co-op Bank, who lost the services of key players Linda Alando, Eleneour Musundi and Irene Makori, made a bright start to the season, beating Western Delight 63-27.
The duel is one of the five matches set for Nyayo Sunday.
Storms, spearheaded by Mercy Wanyama and Susan Akinyi, routed Ulinzi Blades (52-42) and are expected to provide a stern test to Co-op Bank.
Blades, who beat KPA 98-96 in Nairobi last weekend, will start as favourites against Mennonites Sunday at Nyayo as Nakuru Club travel to Kenyatta University to play Pirates.
High stakes
Blades’ coach Tonny Ochieng who also coaches Strathmore’s team ‘B’ will rely on Henry Onono, Samuel Mogoko and Soja Emmanuel as he seeks two vital first leg points against Mennonites.
In the women’s Premier League, Safe Spaces are drawn to play struggling Oryx from Kenyatta University in a match starting from 10.30am.
Saturday’s fixtures will see newly-promoted Barclays Bank take on hosts World Hope in men’s Division One league from 1.30pm.
The bankers have found the going tough in the league, losing their two opening matches.
They fell 46-40 to regular campaigners Little Prince in the first match before Trailblazers beat them 49-45.
Fixtures:
Saturday: At World Hope Centre: Parklands Baptist v JKUAT (9am), Umoja v Little Prince (10.30am), Trailblazers v Dankind (12pm), Barclays Bank v World Hope (1.30pm).
In Eldoret: Eldonets v Zetech College (10am). In Kisumu: Lakeside v Baraka Xtreme (11am).
Sunday: At Nyayo Stadium: Mennonites v Strathmore (9am), Safe Spaces v Oryx (10.30am), Mennonites v Blades (12pm), Co-op Bank v Sprite Storms (2pm), Pirates v Nakuru Club (4pm).
As a result, veterans Abel Kimondo and Mike Lopokoyit should use their long experience in the top league to save Barclays Bank from another humiliation.
World Hope beat  Thika-based Baraka Xtreme (57-55) and their star Moses Abraham is expected to effectively call the shots at their backyard.
Newcomers Dankind Academy, who are motivated with two consecutive victories will take on Trailblazers at Hope Centre from 12pm while Umoja have a date with Little Prince.
Dankind defeated World Hope 68-42 followed by another 60-50 victory over Little Prince the result which give them a head start against Trailblazers, who had struggled to beat Barclays Bank (49-45) last weekend.
After losing 75-62 to newcomers Mombasa County in their opener, seasonal Parklands Baptist will be out to register their first victory when they confront Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
In Eldoret Saturday, Zetech College will be away against hosts and newly promoted Eldonets at 10am while Lakeside will play their second match at home when they host Thika-based Baraka Xtreme at Kisumu Sports Ground from 11am.
Sunday, Zetech College will travel from Eldoret to Kisumu to meet hosts Lakeside at 10am while Mount Kenya University Kakamega will confront Baraka Xreme at Kakamega Police Canteen starting at 10am.