KNBL: KPA eye title defense despite Thunder threat
Victor Bosire (L) of Equity Dumas challenge Lenox Wanje of KPA during their Kenya Basketball Federation League match at Nyayo national stadium on May 25, 2023. KPA won 62-53. Photo/Sportpicha
The defending champions’ first-round match-up will be against Africa Nazarene University’s Wolfpacks, with tip-off slated for Sunday at the Nyayo Gymnasium before hosting the latter a week later in Mombasa for games two and three at the Makande Gymnasium.
The Dockers finished the regular season in second place with 39 points after all 22 games, winning 17 and losing five, while the Wolfpacks finished in the seventh position with 31 points after winning nine and losing 13 games.
“Our aim is to perform all the way to the final, but we are going to approach a game at a time, from the quarters all the way to the final, because every team that qualified for the playoffs can’t be underrated as they are all strong.
“Our aim is to pass all the hurdles one at a time, all the way to the final,” Kiki said.
The soft-spoken tactician says they will make adjustments to enhance their chances of defending their crown amid a substantial threat from unblemished league leaders Nairobi City Thunder.
“I want to thank the management for the support they are giving us; we are preparing well for the playoffs. Our defense will remain the same, and the only thing we are going to do is to make some adjustments to the offensive side.
"That we can fit in with the new format of play we are having at the moment,” he added.
Kiki says despite an indifferent regular season, they will aim to go all the way in the playoffs.
“The performance was not that bad throughout the season, although there are some games that we lost that we shouldn’t have lost. I am happy with the efforts of the players that made us finish in second place, which gave us an advantage in the playoffs.
We have prepared well for the playoffs. As you know, playoffs are a different ball game compared to the regular season,” Kiki explained.
Weekend Fixtures (Sunday) at Nyayo Gymnasium
Regular Season
USIU Tigers VS Ulinzi Warriors- (MP)
Quarter Finals Playoffs
ANU Panthers VS KPA-(WP)
ANU Wolfpacks VS KPA-(MP)
UON Terror VS City Thunder (MP)
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