AP Kenya revive KVF playoff hopes with Prisons Rift Valley win

‎​Needing a decisive victory to climb the table in the final leg of the KVF National League, AP Kenya delivered under pressure wins in the three sets, 25-23, 25-19, and 25-18.

‎​While Prisons Rift Valley fought valiantly in the opening set, pushing the law enforcers to the limit, AP Kenya’s superior floor defence and sharp transition play broke the warders' resistance. Sets two and three saw AP Kenya pull away early, dictating the tempo to seal a comprehensive 3-0 win.

‎​Speaking after the match, AP Kenya head coach Francis Kalama praised his team’s tactical discipline, noting that they corrected the errors that led to a loss in their previous match against KPA.

‎​"I am very happy with today's game. Yesterday we played against KPA and slipped up a bit. But the minor mistakes we made yesterday, we corrected today. I saw all my boys adjust. Our backcourt defence and our blocking system clicked perfectly today. Everything went exactly according to our game plan."

‎​The three points earned from the sweep are massive for AP Kenya, who entered the day sitting outside the top-eight playoff bracket.

‎​"This win is huge because, first of all, we have scooped all three points," Kalama explained. "It gives us the motivation we need to face tomorrow's opponent, Equity Bank. We were lagging behind, but these three points push us closer to the top-eight conversation for the quarterfinals."

‎​Coach Kalama noted that the team is currently hovering around 12th place and needs to break into the top 8 to seal qualification. "Moving from 12th position by grabbing these three points helps us edge closer to number eight. It shows there is light at the end of the tunnel."

‎​While the Prisons Rift Valley head coach refused to comment after the tough loss, AP Kenya is already shifting focus to their next hurdle. Coach Kalama emphasised that they are taking it one game at a time, with zero room for slip ups. ‎

‎​"I won't lie to you, we are going head-on, face-to-face with whoever is ahead of us. We have put today behind us; now we look to what's next, and that is Equity Bank, then Western Prisons, and then GSU. Every team brings its own challenge, but our focus is simple: We want to win. Nothing else."