KPA host Emyba as curtains fall on KBF regular season

 Natalie Akinyi

KPA point Guard Natalie Akinyi in action against Strathmore Blades during their Kenya Basketball Federation women's Premier League match on October 23, 2021 at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.

Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Regular season winners in men and women's Premier League and the lower tier competitions have already been crowned leaving the closing matches only to determine the final top eight positions to qualify for the play-offs.

The regular season of the 2021 Kenya Basketball Federation national leagues end this weekend with 16 second leg matches on the cards in Kisii, Eldoret, Kakamega, Mombasa and Nairobi.

Regular season winners in men and women's Premier League and the lower tier competitions have already been crowned leaving the closing matches only to determine the final top eight positions to qualify for the play-offs.

Men's Premier League defending champions Ulinzi Warriors have been declared winners of the regular season with 42 points while Kenya Ports Authority women's team clinched the the first position on 35 points.

Top eight teams in all the five categories of the national leagues will qualify for the best-of-three series play-offs quarter-finals to determine the 2021 league champions.

KBF competitions secretary Joseph Amoko said the play-offs have been pushed to January next year to pave way for the three clubs, Kenya Ports Authority, Ulinzi Warriors (men) and Equity Bank women's team to participate in the Africa club championship.

"We did not want to start the play-offs and stop mid-way because of unavailability of certain teams," said Amoko.

KPA men's team will host Nairobi-based Emyba in their Premier League match which is a mere formality.

KPA are expected to maintain their second position after losing twice to Ulinzi Warriors in the regular season.

The dockers will start as favorites to win against Emyba, who are bottom on the 12-team league standings with 17 points. Emyba are starring at relegation.

The match at KPA Makande Gymnasium will start at 4pm. Coach Sammy Kiki of KPA will rely on scoring machine Job Byron, Benjamin Muga, Frank Omondi and Victor Odendo to register victory at home after losing 73-66 to Ulinzi Warriors in Nairobi two weeks ago.

Equity Bank, who are assured of finishing third, will conclude their season away in Eldoret against hosts Eldonets at Uasin Gishu Primary School starting at at 11am. on Saturday.

Eldonets, who have a good home record, are expected to give the bankers a run for their money because they badly need the last two points to qualify for the play-offs.

Equity Bank beat Lakeside 68-59 last weekend to increase their points tally 37 and a win against Eldonets will move them to 39 points.

On Sunday, coach Tony Ochieng's Strathmore University Blades and Waringo Gitau's Pirates - who have already booked a ticket to the play-offs - will meet in their last encounter at Nyayo from 4pm.The match is significant in determining the sixth, seventh and eighth final positions.

Blades have garnered 25 points while their fellow varsity students have also managed 25 points.

in the women's Premier League, Storms will face struggling Kisumu's Lady Bucks as they seek to sneak into the playoffs.

Storms have 20 points from seven wins and seven losses. Victory will see Storms end the regular season with 22 points which will guarantee them overall eighth position.

Lady Bucks have only won one game and are already headed for relegation to the women's Division One next year after along stint in the Premier League.

On Sunday, Lady Bucks will take on Eagle Wings in their last match from 8.30am.

Western Delight and Coastal Queens women's teams will be hoping to win their respective matches to improve their last two bottom positions.

On Saturday, Western Delight will lock horns with Footprints at 9am while Coastal Queens will be hosted by Kisii University in Kisii from 9am.

In the men's Division Two, Baobab Blazers will be engaged in their last four matches.

Baobab Blazers will meet Nebulas at 11am, play Shoot 4 Life from 3pm on Saturday  while on Sunday, the coastal side will again play Shoot 4 Life at 10am before they end the  regular season against Kakamega-based Nebulas from 2.30pm.

Fixtures

Saturday

At Nyayo: JKUAT v Shoot 4 Life (9.30am), Nebulas v Baobab Blazers (11am), Storms v Lady Bucks ( (1pm), Baobab Blazers v Shoot 4 Life (3pm)

KPA Makande Gymnasium: KPA v Emyba (4pm)

Kisii University: Kisii v Coastal Queens (9am), Kisii Raptors v Little Prince (11am)

Kakamega Police Canteen: Western Delight v Footprints (9am)

Uasin Gishu Primary School-Eldoret: Eldonets v Equity Bank (11am).

Sunday

At Nyayo: Eagle Wings v Lady Bucks (8.30am), Shoot 4 Life v Baobab Blazers (10am), Dynamites v Lady Bucks (1pm), Baobab Blazers v Nebulas (2.30pm), Blades v Pirates (4pm)

Kisii University: Kisii Raptors v Renegades (9am)

Kakamega Police Canteen: Western Delight v Kisii University (9am)