Basketball: Thunder lead giants into KNBL end-of-season playoffs

The ShaurI Moyo based side, who finished the regular season unscathed, will launch their quest for the title in the quarter finals against University of Nairobi’s Terror on Sunday in Game One before playing Game Two and Three the following weekend.

“Preparations have been going on well. The guys have been competing really hard against one another in practice. We are dealing with a couple of small injuries with certain players but we also recognize we have a deep roster and I am sure the guys that are stepping up will do a great job.

“Obviously after a successful regular season which makes us happy now we shift focus on being competitive in each of our games in the playoffs.”

Elsewhere, women’s league defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) assistant head coach Brenda Angeshi is hopeful they will tip off their title defence in style when they play Africa Nazarene University’s Panthers (ANU).

The Dockers will play Game One in Nairobi on Sunday at the Nyayo Gymnasium before hosting the students in Mombasa the following weekend for Game Two and Three at the Makande Gymnasium, Mombasa.

KPA finished the regular season unbeaten and topped the league standings with 44 points after winning all their 22 matches while ANU Panthers placed eighth with 29 points after winning seven matches and losing 15.

“Our preparations have been okay despite the two weeks break, we have had friendly matches here in Mombasa. We are very hopeful; I also believe that our Nairobi-based players have been training and keeping fit. We expect nothing but the best from our team and we are ready for the playoffs,” said Angeshi.

ANU team head coach Michael Oluoch is however wary of the danger posed by the champions.

ANU Wolfpacks will be hosting KPA men on Sunday in the Game One of the quarterfinals playoffs at the Nyayo Gymnasium while ANU Panthers will do the same at the same venue on the same day before both teams travel to Mombasa the following weekend for Game Two and Three.

“We are ready for the playoffs, these are very important games as we all know in the playoffs there are no second chances, we therefore take every game as a final. The boys and girls are ready and we are putting in final touches as I know they won’t be easy games but we are up to the task.”

“The most important thing for us right now is to concentrate on Game One then later think about Game Twos and Threes. All said and done, we are looking forward to very competitive and highly intense games and we know we will come out victorious at the end of the day.”

Quarter finals playoffs- Sunday- Nyayo Gymnasium

ANU Panthers VS KPA- WP

ANU Wolfpacks VS KPA-MP

UON Terror VS City Thunder - MP