NBK Phoenix, Terror and Wolfpacks in last-ditch effort to avoid relegation

Tom Ragen (left) of NBK Phoenix challenges Lennox Wanje of KPA during their Kenya Basketball Federation League match at Nyayo Gymnasium last year. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

It will be a do-or-die affair this weekend for relegation-threatened sides as they make final attempts to survive the axe and maintain their spots in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League.

With bottom-placed United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Tigers’ Division One fate as good as sealed, three other sides will be out to avoid demotion at Nyayo Gymnasium. Tigers have no chance of saving themselves even though they have three matches at hand.

African Nazarene University (ANU) Wolfpacks, University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror, and National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Phoenix are all at risk of losing their top-tier status.

This weekend’s matches give the trio a lifeline, but they have to be at their best, for there is no room for mistakes, a slight slipup could prove costly and see them fight for a return to the Premier League in Division One next season. NBK Phoenix, who are second from the bottom, must win their last two encounters to enhance their chances of surviving the relegation.

The bankers will have everything to fight for when they take on USIU-A Tigers today and UoN Terror tomorrow. The side must fire from all cylinders to avoid a return to the lower tier after a rocky Premier League debut season. The Phoenixes had a promising start, which saw them stun former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

However, they fizzled out and have so far won six and lost 14, garnering 26 points. If they bag maximum points in the two encounters, they will increase their tally to 30 points. However, their fate still lies in how the other sides perform in their last matches.

Terror have 28 points from eight wins and 12 losses and will today play ANU Wolfpacks, who are placed above them on the standings. The two sides have the same number of points, but Wolfpacks have played 21, winning seven and losing 14. ANU face the highest risk of joining their USIU-A compatriots in the lower tier, for they can only accumulate a total of 30 points this season.

In Mombasa, second-placed KPA will entertain Umoja Basketball Club at Makande Hall. The outcome of the clash will not have any impact on the current standings because the dockers and Umoja will maintain their current second and fifth places, respectively.

In the women’s contest, ANU Panthers will face off with Eldonets Ladies in another battle for survival. Panthers recovered from a slow season that saw them suffer a series of defeats during the first leg and will be looking to secure their sixth win and increase their chances of remaining in the Premier League. However, they face an uphill task against Eldonets, who are currently second from the bottom, and their only hope of playing in the top tier is in winning their remaining three matches.