The first round of the Nakuru Universities Colleges League playoffs games 2023 kicked off yesterday at the Kenya Industrial Technical Institute (KITI).

The playoff consists of six teams from the men’s side and six teams from the women's side.

Dunks, buzzer beaters, cross-overs, hard knocks, fouls, and smart plays were in plenty as all the teams put their best foot forward.

Read: Why Basketball remains a neglected sport in Nakuru

On the women's side we got to see a low scoring match between the Kabarak Royal ladies going up against the RVIST ladies’ teams, both teams playing a defensive game not wanting to let the other get a basket.

Kabarak and RVIST player contest for a jump ball during the play off matches in KITI on October 14, 2023.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) dominated the game to the final whistle with some very good plays ending the game with a 16-10 win.

On the men's side, it was a highly competitive game between RVIST and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT).

From the beginning, the game was cut throat with the teams not letting the other score. The scoring was finally broken by JKUAT and from there it was basket after basket.

RVIST with the help of their players, Abednego Ndege and Tony Martin managed to hold up their own with some well-coordinated plays and even though they did not win the quarter, they managed to go down by two baskets and the quarter ended at 11-13.

Abednego Ndege RVIST player goes for a two point shot against JKUAT opponents during the playoff match in KITI on October 14, 2023.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

The second and third quarter was JKUAT’s show and with the highlight being a thunderous dunk from Atem Garang who forcing the crowd to their feet.

In the fourth quarter RVIST tried to display a comeback but it was too late for them giving JKUAT a 47-41 win.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, Victor Odero the point guard for JKUAT said that they owe the victory to the consistent training they did.

“We approached this game with a positive attitude and also executed what we practiced during training. We are looking forward to the next round of the playoff and we will be going even harder to become the ultimate champions.”

Related: RVIST dominate Kabarak in weekend's basketball game

Abednego Ndege, small forward of the RVIST team said they would use the game as a learning curve and correct their mistakes.

“Even though we have lost, we are going to take time before the next game to correct the areas we have gone wrong. We will bring our A game in the next round of the playoff games”.

Focus now turns to the next round of playoffs that will be played next weekend at RVIST and if anything we saw today was anything to go by, then next weekend will be lit.

sanyabret@gmail.com

Basketball rivals JKUAT and RVIST meet again at Nakuru universities and colleges league

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Bret Sanya