Stanbic Aces eye Hawks scalp in KNBL elimination tie

• The Aces lead the tightly contested series 2-1 and need one more victory to qualify for the championship decider, while Equity must win to force a decisive fifth game on Thursday.

Stanbic Aces players during their Kenya Basketball Federation Women's League against KPA opponent at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium on January 25, 2025. Photo/SportpichaStanbic Aces will be seeking to book their place in the final of the National Women’s Basketball Premier League when they face Equity Hawks today in Game Four of their best-of-five semifinal playoff series at Nyayo Gymnasium, Nairobi.

The Aces lead the tightly contested series 2-1 and need one more victory to qualify for the championship decider, while Equity must win to force a decisive fifth game on Thursday.

Stanbic opened the series with a 66-60 victory in Game One before Equity bounced back strongly in Game Two, cruising to a 70-37 win to level the series.

The Aces, however, reclaimed the advantage in Game Three after edging Equity 56-53 in another closely fought encounter.

The narrow victory has put Stanbic within touching distance of the final, but they will have to produce another disciplined performance today against an Equity side fighting for survival.

For Equity, Game Four is a must-win encounter. Defeat would bring their campaign to an end, while victory would level the series at 2-2 and force a decisive fifth game.

Stanbic will be hoping to avoid such a scenario by completing the series today and joining defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the final.

KPA have already secured their place in the championship decider after completing a 3-0 sweep of TH3 Swish in their semifinal series, winning Game Three 83-42 at Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa after earlier victories of 80-42 and 62-49 in Nairobi.

With a place in the final at stake, today's encounter is expected to be another closely contested affair, with Stanbic aiming to finish the job while Equity fight to keep their title hopes alive.