Obilo rues Stanbic defeat but backs Aces to bounce back

The bankers, who were playing their first match of the second leg, fell 73-60 to Strathmore Swords over the weekend at Nyayo Gymnasium in Nairobi.

Despite the loss, Stanbic remain top of the league standings with 22 points, having won 10 of their 12 matches. 

Their only other defeat this season in the first leg came against defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

Reflecting on the performance, Obilo admitted that his team failed to reach the standards they have set for themselves and credited Strathmore for making life difficult for his players.

"We didn't play to our full potential, and credit to Strathmore because they came well prepared and really pushed us. On our part, I don't think the girls gave 100 percent, but that's a learning lesson for us," said Obilo.

The tactician emphasized that there are no easy matches in the top flight and stressed the importance of approaching every fixture with the same level of focus and commitment.

"The Premier League is competitive, and we always take it one game at a time. Every team in this league is capable of giving you a tough game, so you can't just show up expecting to win. We have to approach each match individually and perform at our best if we are to achieve our goals this season."

However, Obilo remains optimistic that the defeat will serve as a valuable lesson rather than a major setback in their campaign.

"It's a learning experience for us. The important thing is to take lessons from every setback. A loss is only bad if you fail to learn from it, and I believe we have picked up a few valuable lessons from this game," he said.

With another round of league matches on the horizon, the Stanbic coach says attention has already shifted to training and correcting the mistakes that cost them against the Swords.

"As we head into training and begin preparations for next weekend, we'll work on one or two areas that need improvement so that we can put ourselves in a better position to get the next win."

The defeat ended Stanbic's impressive run but leaves them firmly in control at the top of the standings as they continue their pursuit of the league title.

Weekend Results 

Women Premier League

Safe Spaces 72-49 Lady Titans- WP

Strathmore Swords 73-60 Stanbic Aces- WP

UON Dynamites 61-53 Lady Titans- WP

Dream Girls 55-85 Zetech Sparks- WP

TH 3 Swish 40-64 Equity Hawks- WP

Men Premier League

ANU Wolfpacks 44-65 Strathmore Blades- MP

Moischers 70-81 Eldonets Platinum- MP

Strathmore Blades 67-61 UON Terror- MP

ANU Wolfpacks 71-74 Eldonets Platinum- MP