This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
Published on October 29, 2019, by CAXTON APOLLO
USIU-A Flames, a two-time women's Premier League champion, are on the brink of relegation as they face their last two do-or-die regular season matches this weekend.
The team, also known as the Flames, will meet Strathmore University Swords on Saturday and Zetech University on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.
Flames were humiliated 70-52 by Storms last weekend and must now garner maximum points to survive the axe.
Western Delight were the first to be thrown out of next year's top flight competition after finishing last on the table standings with 23 points.
Coach Cliff Owuor's Flames, who won two league titles in 2014 and 2015, are second from bottom with 25 points from five wins and 15 losses.
Should USIU-A Flames lose both matches, they will tie on 27 points with Africa Nazarene University (ANU) to leave the baskets aggregate to determine who will finish in 10th position to avoid relegation.
ANU, promoted to the Premier League this year after winning the women's Division One League championship last year, completed their 22 outings in 10th place.
Flames were humbled 60-27 by Strathmore University in the first leg and 51-45 by Zetech University.
USIU-A men's team, known as the Tigers, was bundled out of the Premier League after finishing second last in the regular season with 26 points.
Strathmore University are fourth on the women's Premier League standings with 36 points, while Zetech University lie fifth with 34 points.
Both experienced teams have already qualified for the play-offs quarter-finals, which enter their second week this weekend.
Equity Bank men's team will start their campaign to lift their first-ever Premier League crown when they take on Emyba in their play-offs quarter-final Game One at Nyayo on Friday from 7:30 pm.
Teams that won their opening play-offs Game One matches last weekend will be seeking second consecutive victories to qualify for the semi-finals on a 2-0 basis on Saturday and Sunday.
Top seeds Ulinzi Warriors, who narrowly beat Lakeside 80-78 in Kisumu, will host their opponents in Game Two at Nyayo on Saturday at 4 pm.
Game Three in case of a 1-1 tie is slated for the same venue on Sunday from 5:30 pm.
Regular season runners-up Thunder will host rivals Eldonets from 5:30 pm in Game Two after having lost Game One 63-53 in Eldoret.
Game Three will be played on Sunday from 4 pm in case Thunder tie the series 1-1.
Barclays Bank, Blazers, Nebulas, and NIBS teams, which won their opening men's Division One League play-offs quarter-final Game One matches last weekend, will host their opponents in decisive Game Two on Saturday and Sunday.
Match schedules for Saturday and Sunday are as follows:
- At Nyayo: KCITI v Baobab Blazers (8:30 am), Zetech Titans v Blazers (10 am), JKUAT v Nebulas (11:30 am), KCA-U v Strathmore University (1 pm), USIU-A Flames v Strathmore University (2:30 pm), Ulinzi Warriors v Lakeside (4 pm), Thunder v Eldonets (5:30 pm)
- Mombasa: Coastal Kings v NIBS (4 pm)
- In Kisii: Kisii University v Riara University (9 am)
- Eldoret: Eldonets v Kisumu Lady Bucks (9 am)
