KCB Lions and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) top the table ahead of the start of the 2010 playoffs, which get under way this weekend with 10 matches to be played at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
Following the completion of the regular season in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kakamega over the weekend, the stage is now set for the post-season that will determine who among the 24 participating teams takes home the national crown.
National champions KCB top the men’s standings with 41 points and were drawn to meet eighth seed Strathmore University who have vowed to upset the form book. KPA will host Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University in Mombasa.
Second place Co-operative Bank – who finished the regular season with 40 points – will take on United States International University (USIU), a team they beat most recently beat 67-61.
Posta’s last tie was an away fixture aganst KPA in Mombasa that they lost 57-75. Despite the result, they finished with 39 points and their opponents will be the uncompromising Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST).
KPA, who finished fourth with 38 points, will take on International Christian Centre (ICC) whose ill-advised move to skip their tie against Lomboritz so as not to draw the porters has turned out to be just what they did not want – a trip to the coastal city.
Meanwhile in the women’s games, after bagging 35 points in the regular season, leaders KPA will host Kenya College of Acountancy (KCA) University, who barely survived with 20 points.
Reigning champions Eagle Wings finished on 33 points and didn’t lose once aside from forfeiting against KPA. They next have a date with seventh place Mennonites.
Yana are third on 31 points and will take on USIU Flames.
The most intriguing game of the women’s playoffs pits two teams that at times even train together – Strathmore University and Sprite Storms, who were separated by just one point in the regular season (29 and 28 respectively).
In the lower division, Ulnzii Warriors who pounded every team on sight and ended their 24 games with a clean run posting maximum 48 points play World Hope. Mennonites square off against Nairobi Aviation College (NAC) who finished with 36 points.
Third placed Parklands Baptists on 42 points meet Trailblazers who are on 39 while Nakuru Club ( 40) complete the fixtures with a match against fifth seed Kisumu Lakeside with 39 in Nakuru.
Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa