KBF Playoffs: Mufutu preaching focus as Warriors book Dumas in semis

Former Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s league champions Ulinzi Warriors take on title-hungry Equity Dumas in the best-of-five semis playoffs after dispensing Eldonets Platinum and University of Nairobi Terror 2-0 in their respective quarters.

Warriors completed their quarters playoff on the weekend as Eldonets visited for Game Two that the military side won 68-48 to set a date with Dumas in a highly-anticipated pairing. The other semi will have Kenya Ports Authority playing Nairobi City Thunder.

Sensational Kenya Morans’ prospect Derrick Ochieng gave a man-of-the match performance, with a double-double after dropping 17 points and 11 rebounds in 31:19 minutes on the floor to help the Bernard Mufutu-coached side to victory. Erick Mutoro scored 16.

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“It was a tough quarter final match up and the Game Two proved that. We struggled in the second quarter and were forced to adjust defensively to recover the deficit in the second half,” Mufutu, whose side went 16-9, 12-17, 17-9 and 18-13 in the four periods said.

As Warriors take on Dumas, with Game One scheduled for Friday 12 May from 8pm at Nyayo Indoor gymnasium, Mufutu and his charges have their work cut out having lost home and away to the bankers in the regular season.

The tactician maintains that his charges are ready to take on the Carey Odhiambo-coached men and fight for a final berth but has called on his troops to remain focused.

“My worry is how well the players will adjust to the new playing environment with the fans who turn up in numbers for the playoffs. It will take maturity to stick to the script in the face of such an alive fanbase. I have a relatively young squad and we continue to prepare them for that. We have to remain focused throughout the matches,” he said.

Asked what the team needs to work on before Friday, the point guard turned coach was very specific on areas his charges had to perfect ahead of the best-of-five series.

“We need to work on our spacing and shooting which was wanting in the quarters. We also have to stick to our sets and avoid giving the opponent a chance to have those scoring runs. 

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Additionally, we have been working on our big men’s workrate on the paint as it is one of the areas that Dumas outplayed us in during the regular season. I am, however, confident everyone will step up as we play the crucial semis matchups,” he concluded.

The bankers are looking to qualify for the final for the first time and fight for a maiden title as Warriors look to reclaim the championship they last won in 2019 under coach William Balozi with Mufutu as his assistant.