Kiki declares KPA ready for title defence

With the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) premier league expected to jump off those weekend, holders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) sides are back in the country after a pre-season tour of Rwanda and Uganda. 

KBF league set for June tip off

KPA men's head coach Sammy Kiki is confident the high level of basketball his squad played in the last week away in Rwanda is a good indication of a well-oiled KPA side that has everything it need to defend the local title and more. 

"We had a good outing in Rwanda, playing very experienced sides with good players and that gave us a chance to try out different aspects of our game and we are ready for the league. 

We are back home where the players will get some rest before we can regroup for our season opener set for 11 June at home," offered Kiki. 

The side also got a chance yo play Namuwongo Blazers of Uganda on their trip back home, going down 59-57 to the side that will be home to the league’s Most Valuable Player Ken Wachira and Kenya Morans forward Ariel Okall for the next few months. 

While in Rwanda, the dockers got a chance to watch the Basketball Africa League playoff quarters through to the final won by US Monastir against Petro de Luanda. 

The Kenyan champions are expected yo be in the next round of BAL qualifiers where coach Kiki will be hoping to guide his charges to becoming the first Kenyan side to make it past the qualifiers on what will be a second attempt. 

US Monastir crowned new BAL Champions

"We are to represent Kenya at the third edition of BAL qualifiers and watching some of these teams in action gave us a glimpse of what yo expect and the level of basketball we need to be playing to be competitive. This was a good experience for us, albeit on the sidelines, and I am confident the players will work towards getting that ticket," added Kiki.