Royal Queens head coach Maurice Ouma has predicted a tough encounter against National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Ladies as the two sides prepare for their second and, if necessary, third-leg matches in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Division One League playoffs this weekend.
After securing a 61-52 victory over NBK in the opening match at Uasin Gishu High School Court in Eldoret last weekend, Royal Queens will be seeking to complete the series when they meet their opponents at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) courts in Nairobi on Saturday.
Ouma said his team was well prepared for the challenge but acknowledged that NBK would pose a serious threat as they battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
“We shall be playing a better side this weekend, but we want to kill the series in Game Two on Saturday to avoid a third game on Sunday. As a team, we are well prepared to secure victory and qualify for the quarter-finals from this Round of 16,” said Ouma.
The coach admitted that NBK would be eager to bounce back after their unexpected defeat in Eldoret, setting the stage for a competitive showdown in Nairobi.
“Our opponents finished third in their conference, while we were sixth. It was an upset against NBK last weekend because they did not expect to lose. It will be a fight of the titans,” he added.
Ouma, however, remained confident that Royal Queens could maintain their momentum and progress to the next round with another strong performance.
The winner of the series will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Strathmore University or Mombasa Queens, who are also battling for a place in the next round.
The Division One playoffs are crucial for the teams seeking promotion to the Women’s Premier League next season, adding further significance to the knockout encounters.
In other Round of 16 fixtures, Malaika will face National Youth Service (NYS), while Kisii University take on Eagle Wings. Strathmore University will battle Mombasa Queens, while ZU Development face Footprints.
Don Bosco will host Cabals, Kisumu will meet Storms, and Africa Nazarene University (ANU) will take on Kenyatta University (KU).
KBF Division One League: Round of 16 Fixtures
- Team Malaika vs National Youth Service (NYS)
- Kisii University vs Eagle Wings
- Strathmore University vs Mombasa Queens
- National Bank of Kenya (NBK) vs Royal Queens
- ZU Development vs Footprints
- Don Bosco vs Cabals
- Kisumu vs Storms
- Africa Nazarene University (ANU) vs Kenyatta University (KU)