Oluoch tips Panthers to get better in KBF second leg

With ten matches played in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women's league for Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Panthers, the side find themselves in sixth place with a playoff slot in sight. 

The Mike Oluoch-led Panthers had a less impressive start to their season, with only six on the playing unit but the side seems to have found their footing after incorporating some first year students. 

Dramatic victory for Panthers in clash against Dynamites

On the weekend, Panthers picked a dramatic 66-64 victory over varsity rivals Dynamites to make it five wins in ten matches but Oluoch maintains the best is yet to come. 

"We have been on a rebuilding path, having started the league with a six-man squad. Most of the players that have come in lack the experience of playing in the top tier league so the process of induction is still on. 

This weekend's win was huge as we had come from a close encounter with Zetech Sparks where we ended up losing. This shows that what we are working on in training is being implemented," offered Oluoch. 

The tactician was quick to admit that his side is still facing some lapses as a bulk of the players are fresh from high school and not accustomed to the intensity of the league. 

"We are hoping that in the near future the team will have grown, the new players will have stabilised and they will be comfortable on the floor," Oluoch maintains. 

Their performance against Sparks in the previous weekend, a match that ended 60-53, in favour of Zetech gave Panthers the confidence to go all out against Dynamites. 

"My players know that this league is not about the big names and the experienced teams. How we play is highly depended on how we hold ourselves, the heart and fighting spirit that comes from within. That is what will propel us to do better and churn even better results in the second leg," the tactician added. 

Panthers complete their first leg roster away in Kisumu against Lady Bucks and Oluoch believes his charges have their work cut out on the paint. 

"Against Dynamites, we missed three quarters of our chances on the line so we really need to work on that. Our rotation on defense has also been wanting and it has the potential to kill us in Kisumu as they have bigger players that can muscle their way on the paint. We have to cover each other," he concluded.