The Equity Hawks are set to face Stanbic Aces in a decisive Game Five match at Nyayo Gymnasium on Thursday, aiming to secure a spot in the National Women's Basketball Premier League final. The Hawks' coach, Ben Oluoch, emphasizes the importance of defensive discipline and composure in their quest for victory. This comes after the Hawks' impressive 68-36 win over Stanbic Aces in Game Four, which leveled the best-of-five semi-final series at 2-2.
The Equity Hawks' victory in Game Four was marked by a strong defensive performance, which limited Stanbic Aces to just 36 points. Oluoch attributes the win to his team's defensive intensity, which allowed them to take control of the game early. The Hawks led 14-8 after the opening quarter and extended their advantage to 31-24 at halftime. They then dominated the third quarter, restricting Stanbic to just four points while scoring 17 to move ahead 48-28.
The win in Game Four was a significant response for the Equity Hawks, who had suffered a 56-53 loss in Game Three that left them on the brink of elimination. The Hawks had earlier won Game Two 70-37 after losing the opener 66-60. Oluoch stresses that the 32-point victory in Game Four will count for little unless his team reproduces their discipline in the decider.
The winner of the Game Five match will meet defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the final. KPA completed a 3-0 semi-final sweep of TH3 Swish, with victories of 80-42, 62-49, and 83-42. The Equity Hawks are chasing a return to the podium after finishing among the top three in last season's league campaign.
The Equity Hawks have established themselves as one of Kenya's leading women's basketball sides in recent years. They won their fourth Kenya Basketball Federation Women's Premier League title in 2024 after edging the Dockers 76-74 in overtime in a dramatic Game Five. However, their title defense ended in the 2025 semi-finals when KPA won the series 3-1.
Coach Oluoch emphasizes that Game Five will be a completely different game, and it will come down to who executes better and stays composed under pressure. The Equity Hawks are seeking to seal a spot in the final and end their 2025 semi-final heartbreak.
The decisive Game Five match between Equity Hawks and Stanbic Aces will determine KPA's opponents in the final play-offs. The Equity Hawks are banking on their defensive discipline and composure to carry them into the final, and they will look to improve their execution at both ends of the court to secure the win.
Key points
- The Equity Hawks need to win against Stanbic Aces to reach the final and end their 2025 semi-final heartbreak.
- The winner of the Game Five match will meet defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the final.
- Coach Ben Oluoch emphasizes the importance of defensive discipline and composure in the Equity Hawks' quest for victory.
