Basketball playoffs: AWBL qualification motivation for Sparks in quest for title

For a chance to feature in their first-ever continental championship, Zetech Sparks are throwing everything at Equity Hawks when the two sides clash in the best-of-five Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s league semis.

Sparks, who against all odds, reached the playoff final for the first time last season, qualified for the semis after a 2-0 win in the best-of-three quarters against Storms, winning Game One 77-26 and Game Two 58-37.

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“We are up against a side that can win the championship so the competition goes a notch higher. Compared to last year, this is a better Hawks side so we will not let history lie to us, we have to fight,” head coach Maurice Obilo who led his side in a 3-0 sweep of the bankers in the semis last season, told Mozzart Sport.

The Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament winners hope to replicate the same form in the playoffs but coach Obilo is well aware that the playoffs are a different ball game.

Ahead of the matches, the tactician admits that this will be a tougher match-up given the changes in the two squads, from last season’s playoffs as well as this season’s regular league.

“We have lost some key players led by guard Mary Lisa who has joined United States International University (USIU). She has been instrumental for the team and was in my plans for the playoffs but we are now forced to adjust to her absence.

What’s more, her exit comes after we already lost her substitute Maureen Nyanganyi to Hawks and that leaves us in a very difficult place. However, the players available know what’s expected of them and are ready to deliver,” the tactician added.

Sparks who sat out the 2023 Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) qualifiers due to budgetary constraints, giving up their place for Hawks, say the opportunity to feature in this year’s extravaganza is one of the motivating factors.

“It will be no walk in the park but we will challenge for the title. What’s more, we are ready for the continental competition as the institution now has a budget for that,” Obilo confirmed.