Ulinzi Warriors set to fight for East African Cup glory against Les Hippos

Home side Ulinzi Warriors and Burundi's Les Hippos won their respective semis clashes on the penultimate day of the East African Basketball Championship Cup to set up a final clash set for Friday, 10 October.

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Hippos completed a double against home side Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) while Warriors stunned Umoja in an all-Kenyan affair. The losers play the third-place match with KPA keen to replicate last edition's exploits for bronze.

Warriors continued their unbeaten run in the campaign for regional silverware, playing for a 68-64 victory against local rivals Umoja, a match that the latter were expected to dominate, having assembled a star-studded unit. Isaac Munywoki's side who struggled to contain the military side on the paint, mounting a late rally with some edge-of-the-seat action in the final minutes of the game, but it was not enough to turn the match in their favour. 

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The two sides got off to quick stars, a three-point clinic entertaining the fans as the sides tied the game on six points from range, Umoja leading 9-8. The soldiers pulled away for 17-11 off a Elvis Akoyi three. Simeon Rapudo's three-point play down the stretch taking the match to 20-11. 

Despite getting into foul trouble in the opening three minutes of the second period, Ulinzi managed to stay safe, picking minimal fouls. Umoja came close at 26-22 but Bernard Mufutu's men shot well from range to pull away for 40-29 heading to the halftime break. 

"Today was all about teamwork and defense. We knew they have good shooters and we had to cut their shots and put traps worked. Towards the end, however, the pressure and fatigue got to us. 

We will need our bench to be switched on in the final as we have a tough challenge, and their presence needs to be felt. The nation is behind us now and we will come out ready to fight," Rapudo, who top scored for the outfit with 26, said.

On resumption, it was Umoja who enjoyed some momentum, quickly cutting their deficit to 43-38 in the opening four minutes, but Ulinzi regrouped to for 48-38 with just over two minutes to play in the third period. 

Dismas Mbaka's three with 1:50 to play made it 48-42, forcing Mufutu's men into a much-needed timeout. Just like the second quarter, Umoja failed to capitalise on Ulinzi's foul trouble, instead allowing a 7-1 run for 55-43 heading to the last stanza. 

Umoja fought for 67-60 with just under two minutes to play. Faheem Juma's three with 30 seconds on the clock revived his side's winning hopes at 68-63, Bosire converting once from the free throw line for 68-64 with 16.3 seconds. 

"We did not play to our potential and this is a tough loss. We came to shoot the ball but we couldn't and our transition defense was also poor to execute our game plan. We drew some fouls but our conversion on the line was wanting. We have work to do ahead of the bronze match, but that's a must-win match for us," Umoja forward Thomas Kioko said. 

The final day of action will see Gambela City take on Stein Warriors in the fifth place match from 1pm, paving way for an all-Kenyan affair as KPA, Umoja clash in the third-place. 

The nation's hopes rest on Ulinzi to deliver a title for the hosts while Hippos look to extend Burundi's reign in the EABCC.