Warriors eye top spot as Lakeside lie in wait

Champions Ulinzi Warriors will be seeking to clinch the number one slot in the regular season of this year's men's Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League when they host Kisumu-based Lakeside at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium on Sunday at 4pm.

After their statement 73-66 win over title rivals Kenya Ports Authority in their second leg tie in Nairobi, lat weekend, Ulinzi Warriors will start as favourites against Lakeside.

Ulinzi need to win their remaining three matches to clinch the top spot in the regular season which guarantees home advantage in the playoffs.

The soldiers, who are eyeing their eighth Premier League tittle, are currently third in the 12-team standings with 36 points.

They have won 17 matches and lost two with three fixtures left to conclude the regular season against lakeside and bottom-placed Emyba at home and away.

Thunder beat Ulinzi 64-56 with-lowly rated Lakeside also denying the soldiers one vital point in Kisumu.

If coach William Balozi's red-hot Warriors harvest six points from their three remaining matches, they will end their 22 outings with 42 points.

KPA, who are heading the table standings with 38 points from 18 wins and two loses, are also on course to win their last two crucial matches to increase their points tally 42.

"Having beaten strong rivals KPA home and away, my boys are now focused to win all the remaining three matches without underrating any team at this critical stage,'' Balozi said.

As things stand, If Warriors and KPA end the season on same points, then the Eastleigh-based soldiers will have the advantage of being declared regular season winners.

Warriors have beaten KPA home and away.

The top eight teams will qualify for the play-offs to determine the 2021 Premier League champions.

Emyba, who meet Eldonets in Eldoret on Saturday at 8.30am, are also eyeing the eighth slot.

In the top men's Premier League showdown, second-placed Equity Bank will host Lakeside at Nyayo on Saturday starting at 4pm.The bankers, who
have garnered 35 points after having won 15 matches and lost five, are also fighting to win their remaining two outings to conclude the regular season
in third spot with 39 points.

Thunder, who ended their hopes of finishing third when Lakeside upset them 51-45 last weekend, must rise to the occasion to defeat KCA-U to move close to finishing fourth overall on 35 points.

Coach Sadat Gaya's Thunder are in fourth spot with 31 points and can increase their points to final 35.

In the women's Division One League, Coastal Queens will be seeking to escpae the axe when they host bottom-placed Kakamega's Western Delight
at KPA Makande Gymnasium from 9am while Neosasa will play two matches against hosts Nebulas and Kisii Raptors at Kakamega Police Canteen.

Fixtures

Saturday

At Nyayo: JKUAT v Renegades (2pm), Equity Bank v Lakeside (3pm)

At Kakamega Police Canteen: Nebulas v Neosasa (9am), Kisii Raptors v Neosasa (3pm)

At KPA Makande Gymnasium-Mombasa: Coastal Queens v Western Delight (9am).Uasin Gishu Primary School

In Eldoret: Eldonets v Emyba (8.30am)

Sunday

In Kakamega: Nebulas v Nakuru Club (9am)

At Kisii University: Kisii Raptors v MAB (9am)

At Nyayo: Ulinzi Warriors v Lakeside (2pm),Thunder v KCA-U (4pm)