Leaders Thunder come face-to-face with Strathmore University Blades in a Kenya National Basketball League clash at Nyayo Stadium gymnasium on Saturday.
The students have been out of action with two of their key players, Jayson Nwodo and Denis Koja, and coach Tony Ochieng involved with the Kenya 3x3 team at the African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Thunder, coming off an epic 73-70 victory over Equity Bank Dumas, will have to be at their best to stop a wounded team. Thunder lead the standings with 32 points from 16 matches.
Coach Brad Ibs hopes his players will avoid the defensive lapses witnessed in the first half of their encounter against Dumas.
Blades are 11th in the 13-team table with 19 points from 13 matches. They have six wins and victory this weekend will push them to a respectable position.
"We are going guns blazing against Thunder. We want to keep up the momentum by giving it our best. The idea is to force them into less field goals. The rest we can handle," said Ochieng.
United States International University (USIU) Tigers take on Absa. USIU pelted champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at home, winning 56-50 in a shock result last weekend. David Maina's Tigers, promoted to the top tier this year, are on the prowl.
They lie second on the table and they will be no push-overs. Absa are blowing hot and cold. After shocking Ulinzi Warriors, they suffered a harrowing 72-52 defeat to the University of Nairobi Terrorists.
Moischers versus Clique Mambas is the pick of the day in the Lower Division matches. The two teams know each other from their days in the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) league before earning promotion last year.
Strathmore University's second-string women's team battles Safe Spaces as Strathmore (men) meet Moi Air Base (MAB).
Fixtures
Strathmore University v Safe Spaces
MAB v Strathmore University
USIU v Absa
Thunder v Strathmore
Lower Division matches:
Creek v Little Prince
Feba v KCA
Moischers v Clique Mambas
