Sparks fired up for Hawks test, Thunder keen to extend fine run in KNBL semis

Zetech Sparks head coach Maurice Obilo is aware of the threat their opponents Equity Hawks pose when they face each other in the semifinal playoffs of the Kenya National Basketball Women’s Premier League Friday evening.

The students who knocked out Storms in the quarterfinals will be facing Hawks in the semis with Game One before playing Game Two on Sunday at Nyayo Gymnasium in the five-game series.

“I know the game will be very interesting but I can say we have prepared well, actually the whole season we have been building up to this level. We therefore not starting now, the journey started way earlier as we have been preparing for it throughout the season.

“We have have had our ups and downs, losing some of key players in the last minute to other teams which disoriented us a little bit but we still regrouped and it’s now a matter of planning and working with the players we have to make sure that we get the job done,” Obilo said.

However, Obilo is aware of the limit to which he cannot stretch his players, acknowledging their opponents’ quality.

“I know they will come out ready to compete because they have worked well, Equity has a more decent team this year than last year, they have signed more experienced and senior players but we have worked and are ready for them.

“We have lost four players from our last year’s squad and we haven’t recruited any so it’s just a few adjustments here and there and we are ready to go,” Obilo added.

The four players that Zetech lost are Mary Lisa who joined fellow varsity side USIU Flames, the duo Valary Kemunto and Marine Nyang’anyi who joined Equity Hawks and Agnettah Kambua who is on work related activities.

On their side, Equity Hawks knocked out Eldonets in the quarter-final playoffs and will be looking to revenge after losing to Zetech last season at the same stage.

In another Friday night match, unbeaten side Nairobi City Thunder will be playing Equity Dumas in Game One at the same venue before playing Game Two on Sunday in the Kenya National Basketball Men’s Premier League.

Thunder head coach Brad Ibs is cautious ahead of the match, despite beating them four times this year.

“The two weeks of preparations have been fine, it has really been nice to get everyone healthy and back into our regular lineup. We have played them four times, twice in regular season and twice in the Eliud Owalo invitational tournament and all the games were very close but we are ready to compete and win,” Ibs said.

Nairobi City thrashed University of Nairobi’s Terror in the quarters while Equity Dumas knocked out giants Ulinzi Warriors.

Defending champions for both the leagues Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will be facing varsity sides Strathmore Swords and Strathmore Blades in women’s and men’s premier league semis.

Both KPA teams defeated Africa Nazarene University teams in the quarters to qualify for the semi-final playoffs while Strathmore teams qualified after knocking out USIU teams.

Friday June 21, 2024

Zetech Sparks VS Equity Hawks- WP- Game One

Equity Dumas VS Nairobi City Thunder- MP- Game One

Saturday June 22, 2024

Strathmore Swords VS KPA- WP- Game One

Strathmore Blades VS KPA- MP- Game One

Sunday June 23, 2024

Zetech Sparks VS Equity Hawks- WP- Game Two

Equity Dumas VS Nairobi City Thunder- MP- Game Two

Strathmore Swords VS KPA- WP- Game Two