The battle for this year’s Labour Day basketball Cup will be between Kenya Commercial Bank Lions and Co-operative Bank at the Menengai High School in Nakuru Saturday from 9am.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) fixtures secretary, Joseph Amoko, said the two top Premier League teams are among eight Nairobi-based clubs that have confirmed participation in the two-day tournament.
KCB Lions, who won their third league title in a row last year, will get the opportunity to meet their rivals Co-op Bank before the first leg league tie at the Nyayo National Stadium.
New players
Both KCB Lions and Co-op Bank made an impressive starts by winning their opening league matches and they are both expected to qualify for the Nakuru tournament final on Sunday.
KCB Lions demolished newcomers Blazers 71-41 while Co-op Bank, who finished third last year, defeated International Christian Centre 68-63.
Lions coach Francis Ngunjiri said they have not recruited new players this year but Co-op Bank’s upcourt has been strengthened by United States-based forward Peter Kiganya.
But Strathmore University men and women’s teams should not be underrated in the Labour Cup, going by their current form in their league opening fixtures.
Coach Tonny Ochieng led Strathmore men’s team in a 68-54 clean win against Kenya Ports Authority last weekend while their women counterparts beat Mennonites 51-36. Paul Nyakinda and Frank Simiyu of Strathmore can be dangerous in the tournament.
Defending champions
Premier League newcomers Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology will get a chance to meet their giant killers KCB Lions in Nakuru before their league opener in Nairobi next weekend.
MMUST, will be playing in the top league for the first time after winning the Division One league championship last year. The students beat Blazers 2-0 in the best-of-three series final but both teams booked a ticket to the Premier League.
Lions and Yana are the defending champions but from this year the winners will be retain the trophy for good.