Why KBF quarter-finals playoffs are far from settled

• The series involving the defending champions had little drama. They swept Lakeside 2-0, winning Game One 97-54 before completing the job with an 87-44 victory in the second.

The opening weekend of the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men’s Premier League playoffs at Nyayo Stadium set the stage for a tense quarter-final finish, with defending champions Nairobi City Thunder already through and three other series still alive.

Thunder eliminated Kisumu Lakeside to underline their status as the team to beat, while Stanbic Shields also booked their place in the semi-finals after sweeping former champions Ulinzi Warriors.

But the remaining quarter-finals are far from settled.

Equity Dumas and Umoja are tied 1-1, with their, winner-takes-all, Game Three coming up this weekend, while KPA lead Strathmore Blades 1-0 and will return home for the next two games of their series.

Citizen Digital looks at how the opening weekend produced contrasting fortunes — dominance at the top, heartbreak for two teams and plenty of unfinished business elsewhere.

Thunder waste no time

The series involving the defending champions had little drama. They swept Lakeside 2-0, winning Game One 97-54 before completing the job with an 87-44 victory in the second.

The holders maintained their unbeaten run and sent another warning to the other teams still chasing them.

Their playoff start suggests the champions have no intention of letting their standards drop when the pressure rises.

For Lakeside, the season ends with valuable playoff experience against a Thunder side that continue to look a level above the competition.

Stanbic Shields also secured their semi final place, but their route was considerably more demanding.

The fourth seeds edged Ulinzi Warriors 60-58 in Game One before winning Game Two 79-72 to complete a 2-0 sweep.

The opening game was particularly tight, with just two points separating the sides at the final buzzer.

Ulinzi pushed Stanbic again in Game Two, but the Shields found enough separation to close out the series. Thanks to rookie Alvin and Veteran Griffin Ligare.

For Stanbic, it was a significant achievement after finishing the regular season only one position above Ulinzi.

For the Warriors, it was the end of a campaign in which they would never want to remember as they could not compete with the league’s better sides.

Umoja keep their season alive

The Equity Dumas-Umoja series has produced the biggest twist of the opening round after the bankers won Game One 68-50 and appeared to be in control.

Umoja, however, responded when defeat would have ended their campaign after fighting back to win Game Two 62-58, levelling the series and forcing a decider.

Umoja’s comeback was built around a huge second quarter, when they overturned an early deficit and took control of the contest. Now the two sides head into Game Three with everything on the line.

Equity will be looking to rediscover the authority they showed in the opening game, while Umoja will carry the confidence of knowing they have already survived one elimination test.

KPA have the advantage, but not the series

KPA’s opening playoff outing also produced a warning for Strathmore Blades, but the Dockers are not through yet.

The nine-time champions won Game One 77-61, taking an early lead in the best-of-three series. But unlike Thunder and Stanbic, KPA cannot celebrate a semifinal berth yet.

They will now head back home in Mombasa, where they will host Games Two and, if necessary, Game Three.

That gives KPA the advantage of knowing they need just one more victory to progress.

For Strathmore, however, the equation is equally straightforward: win Game Two and the series is level, setting up a winner-takes-all Game Three.

The Blades therefore have no room for complacency or hesitation, and KPA may have won the opening battle, but the series is still alive.

After the opening weekend, the quarter-final picture is beginning to separate into two very different stories.

The opening weekend may have ended, but the real drama of the KBF playoffs is only beginning.