Champions KCB Lions and KPA men and women’s teams open the defence of their league titles with Game One of the best-of-three series play-offs finals at the KPA Makande gymnasium in Mombasa on Saturday.
KCB Lions face a baptism of fire encounter in their bid to win the title for the third time in a row against much-improved hosts KPA. KPA women also face an uphill task at home against strong rivals Eagle Wings from Nairobi. The dockwomen easily beat Eagle Wings 2-0 to win last year’s title.
Another men’s Division One league play-offs final opener will also be staged away from Nairobi when newcomers Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology host Nairobi-based Blazers at Kakamega Police Canteen.
The students, who have already realised their dream of joining the 2010 Premier League on their first attempt, knocked out Nairobi’s Parklands Baptist 2-0 in the semis while Blazers surprised many when they battled from a game down to eliminate KCA-U 2-1.
Mombasa fixtures are tricky for both KCB Lions and KPA teams in their bid to retain the cup for the third time in a row. Lions registered an easy 2-0 win against Tigers of USIU in the best-of-three series semi-final. KPA had to work hard from a game down to show Co-operative Bank the door, 2-1.
The dockmen, who last won the league title in 1991, had lost 78-55 to Co-op Bank in Game One in Nairobi. But KPA turned the tables with a huge 75-57 win in Game Two to tie the series 1-1. With the homecourt advantage, KPA eliminated the bankers 2-1 after emerging winners 73-62 in the decisive Game Three.
Fixtures: Saturday at Nyayo Stadium: NPC v Mennonites (10am), Eastern Queens v Flames (10am), Yana v KCA-U (12pm), Posta v Tigers (4pm). In Mombasa: KPA v Eagle Wings (4pm), KPA v KCB Lions (5.30pm). In Kakamega: MMUST v Blazers (12pm). Sunday in Nairobi: World Hope v Nakuru Club (10am), Storms v Strathmore University (12pm), Lomboritz v Strathmore University (2pm), ICC v Co-op Bank (4pm).