KBF Playoffs: Ulinzi, Thunder kick start busy weekend in Friday classification tie

Former Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) champions Ulinzi Warriors will on Friday night take on Nairobi City Thunder in the KBF Men’s Division third-place playoff matchup set to tip off at the Nyayo National Gymnasium.

Ulinzi Warriors - coming off a 3-1 series defeat to finalists Equity Dumas will be seeking to finish at least in the top three positions against an opponent that suffered a semi-finals deficit of the same score line against the defending champions - Kenya Ports Authority.

“It's about finishing with momentum as we continue to build for next season and hope to be the last team standing,” Thunder head coach Sadat Gaya told The Star Sports on Friday.

Ulinzi Warriors - a team that was poised to make it to the finals - was stunned 69-58, 73-66, 90-63 in three games against Carey Odhiambo’s side; their only win coming in a 68-66 win in Game Three.

In the day's early kickoff matchup, Zetech University Development will take on USIU Flames in game three of the women’s Division One finals - set for a best of five series.

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On Saturday, men’s and women’s defending champions Kenya Ports Authority, under the stewardship of head coach Anthony Ojukuwu will look to claim the top prizes once again as both series’ head to Makande Hall in Mombasa.

KPA women hold a commanding 2-0 lead of surprise team Zetech University Sparks, and after two blow-out victories, the latest being a 70-38 win last weekend, everything points to a dockers sweep in Saturday’s 1400 EAT kickoff game.

On the men’s side, things got a little bit tastier over the weekend as after falling in their first game, home side Equity Bank Dumas rallied back to claim a slim 70-69 victory over KPA to have the series tied at 1-1.

Having recorded a regular season win in Mombasa this season already, KPA - set to be without their defensive leader in Victor Odendo - will have to work just harder to return to the summit of the Kenyan basketball standings.

The other matches on Saturday will see Women’s Division One side Th3 Swish take on Strathmore University Swords 2 in the third place classification match while Stanbic Shields will face NBK Phoenix in game three of the men’s division two finals. Shields are 2-0 up in the series.

Friday fixtures.

Zetech University Development vs USIU Flames - 1800hrs

Ulinzi Warriors vs Nairobi City Thunder - 2000hrs

Saturday fixtures.

Th3 Swish vs Strathmore Swords 2 - 1200hrs

ABSA vs Snipers - 1400hrs

USIU Flames vs Zetech University Development - 1600hrs

Stanbic Shield vs NBK Phoenix - 1800hrs

USIU Tigers vs Strathmore - 2000hrs

KPA vs Zetech Sparks - 1400hrs - Mombasa

KPA vs Equity Dumas - 1600hrs - Mombasa