Obilo demands improvement after Stanbic Aces narrow win over Zetech

Stanbic Aces players engaging in team talk in a past event /HANDOUT 

 Stanbic Aces head coach Maurice Obilo has called for urgency in training as his team look to sharpen their finishing and tighten their defence ahead of the National Women’s Basketball Premier League clash against Zetech Sparks at Ulinzi Sports Complex.

Despite grinding out a tight 57–56 win, Obilo admitted his team fell below their expectations in a match decided by fine margins. “We didn’t play very well, but we got the win,” Obilo said, acknowledging the scrappy nature of the performance while stressing the need for improvement.

“We’ll take the lessons from this match and go back to work because there are many areas we need to improve on, from our aggression and defence, to making better decisions on offence. Credit to Zetech, they played very, very well.”

The one-point difference reflected a fiercely contested encounter played at high intensity from start to finish, with Zetech Sparks pushing the bankers deep into the fourth quarter.

The match also carried added intrigue as Obilo faced his former side for the first time since taking charge of Stanbic Aces. Both teams appeared well-versed in each other’s systems, resulting in a tactical battle that offered little separation throughout. On the opposite bench, Zetech Sparks head coach Job Munene praised his players’ growing maturity and resilience despite the narrow defeat.

“The players are still relatively new to playing high-intensity matches, but they are adapting well and beginning to execute things the way they should,” Munene said, pointing to steady improvement within his squad.

“However, playing an opponent over the weekend with a coach who understands us and our systems made it easier to read each other.” The result lifted Stanbic Aces to 13 points, consolidating second place after seven matches, with six wins and one loss.

Zetech Sparks, despite the defeat, climbed to third on 11 points from seven outings, having won four and lost three, tightening the race in the upper half of the table.

At the summit, defending champions Kenya Ports Authority continued their dominant run, maintaining a perfect record with 16 points from eight wins, firmly asserting control of the title race.

Elsewhere, KPA defeated Th3 Swish 77–59 and overpowered Dream Girls 98–55, while Ulinzi Warriors beat Stanbic Shields 67–54. Umoja edged UON Terror 70–64, and City Thunder cruised past Moischers 93–59, results that continue to intensify competition as the league progresses.