KBF Playoffs: Cliff Owuor confident of KPA’s comeback
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 20.07.24. | 08:10
In Game One, KPA gave away a double-digit lead to lose 73-70 and failed in their comeback attempt in Game Two, settling for a 59-50 loss
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s league champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) face a herculean task in their quest to retain the league title.
Up against unbeaten (both in regular and playoff season) Nairobi City Thunder in the best-of-five playoff final, the Cliff Owuor-led dockers find themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing 2-0 heading to Saturday’s (20 July) Game Three.
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Well aware that this is a must-win clash for a lifeline at clinching the title and representing the country in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers, Owuor maintains that his squad has what it takes to turn the tables on Thunder.
“We are up against a very good side, no doubt, but we know what our shortcomings in the opening two matches were. We have since worked on that and I am confident in our chances today,” Owuor told Mozzart Sport.
In Game One, KPA gave away a double-digit lead to lose 73-70 and failed in their comeback attempt in Game Two, settling for a 59-50 loss, all in the last five minutes of the match as the two sides tied on 45 points halfway through the last stanza.
“That has been our biggest undoing, holding on to leads and killing the game. Thunder has not dominated us in the two matches. They used their experience to close out the games and we will be keen not to let that happen.
This is a must-win match but we head into the clash with a lot of confidence. Mentally my players are ready. They know what is expected of them and we will be alert from the first to last whistle,” the tactician added.
Brad Ibs-led Thunder are chasing a maiden league title with eyes on becoming the first Kenyan side to feature in the BAL proper as both KPA and Ulinzi Warriors who have had the chance in the past four editions came short in the Road to BAL qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the women’s league holders KPA are in a similar stalemate as their male counterparts, having gone 2-0 behind to nemesis Equity Hawks.
The Antony Ojukwu-coached dockers play at home as they look to pull one back and avoid a sweep while giving themselves a fighting chance. Ben Oluoch’s Hawks, on their part, are keen to reclaim the title.
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