Caxton Apollo
31 October 2008
Nairobi — The 2008 national basketball league play-offs begin on Saturday with four matches in Mombasa and the Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium.
The best-of-three series contests which will determine the 2008 men and women's league champions start with the opening tie between Kenya Ports Authority and Co-operative Bank.
The explosive showdown will be played at KPA Makande gymnasium Saturday at 4pm.
On Sunday at the Nyayo Stadium, women's regular season winners Eagle Wings will confront fourth seeded Sprite Storms starting at 4pm.
In the men's Division One play-offs Mennonites play Lomboritz at 12 pm while regular season champions Posta take on Blazers from 2pm.
Matches involving Kenya's representatives in the Zone Five Africa club championships Kenya Commercial Bank Lions, KPA and Flames of the United States International University women's teams will start on November 8 in Nairobi and Mombasa.
On Saturday, KPA will be out to beat Co-op Bank to make their work easier in the return leg tie scheduled for Nairobi next weekend.
Co-op, who finished runner-up to KCB Lions will take no chances since a win in Mombasa will enhance their chances of qualifying for the final.
With experienced players, John Apollo, Musa and Francis Odari brothers, Mike Opel and Patrick Kirui, KPA are expected to give the bankers a run for their money.
The bankers have lost in several finals to KCB Lions and Ulinzi Warriors and this time coach Carey Oketch has looked for a winning strategy. Co-op Bank's key players are; towering Richard Osano, Wycliffe Ochieng and Dan Gaiko, who are all experienced to cause havoc if left loose.
Coach Juma Kent of Eagle Wings won the regular season without stiff opposition but making the play-offs final is different proposition. Eunice Ouma, Caroline 'Majeng" Achieng and Rebecca Sarange will be out to be proved wrong.
Sprite Storms finished fourth and with Anjella Luchivya, Brenda Odula and Catherine Olang in their line up, Eagle Wings should prepare for a big showdown.
Posta, has a bulk of veterans led by Ben Oluoch, Franklin Delano and Ken Ondiek whose long experience has no question.
They clinched the regular season with unbeaten record and fourth rated Blazers have a mountain to climb in the play-offs semi-final.
Consistent scorers in the regular season, Germaine Mungai, Lawrence Ndegwa and Kevin Otieno should prepare for their critical shots as Mennonites face Lomboritz.
Dennis Chutte and Melvin Oketch wil be the main men for Lomboritz.
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