Th3 Swish advanced to the KBF Women’s Premier League semi-finals after eliminating Strathmore University Swords.
Swish won the quarter-final series 2-1, while KPA’s women advanced and Nairobi City Thunder needed overtime to take the men’s finals opener.
Th3 Swish secured their first semi-final appearance since promotion to the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Premier League, edging Strathmore University Swords by one point in Sunday’s decisive quarter-final encounter.
The victory completed a 2-1 series comeback for coach Ariel Okal’s side and ended Swords’ challenge for the 2026 league title. Swish had lost the opening game 80-78 before a forfeited second match brought them back into contention.
Elsewhere, defending women’s champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) progressed to the last four, while Nairobi City Thunder opened their men’s championship series against KPA with an overtime victory.
Swish survive Swords’ second-half rally
Swish established control early in Game Three, taking the opening quarter 15-9. They added a 17-11 advantage in the second period to reach half-time with a 32-20 lead.
That 12-point cushion proved decisive as Swords mounted a strong response after the break. The university side outscored Swish 26-15 across the second half but fell one point short of overturning the deficit.
For Swish, holding on delivered a milestone play-off result after a series in which they had little room for error following their narrow opening defeat. Okal characterised the deciding contest as a fight for survival.
The series had turned on Saturday when Swords forfeited Game Two after declining to continue following interruptions caused by power outages. Swish were leading 49-27 when that match ended prematurely.
The forfeiture levelled the quarter-final at 1-1, leaving Sunday’s meeting to determine which side would remain in the title race. Swish’s first-half scoring ultimately carried them through despite Swords’ late recovery.
KPA women keep title defence on track
KPA’s women maintained their pursuit of another championship by completing a 2-0 quarter-final series win over Safe Spaces.
The defending champions recorded a commanding 76-35 victory in Game Two at Makande Gymnasium to secure their semi-final place.
They joined Equity Hawks, who had become the first team to qualify for the last four after eliminating Zetech University Sparks. Swish’s breakthrough added another confirmed contender to the semi-final field.
Thunder escape late scare in men’s final
In the men’s best-of-five final, defending champions Nairobi City Thunder beat hosts KPA 78-67, but only after recovering from a precarious position in the closing seconds of regulation.
KPA led 59-57 with six seconds remaining and had an opportunity to extend their advantage. Jshin Brownlee, however, missed an open dunk, giving Thunder a route back into the contest.
Thunder capitalised by drawing level at 59-59 and sending the match into overtime. They then took firm control, outscoring the Dockers 19-8 in the additional period to claim a 1-0 series lead.
David Deng led Thunder’s scoring with 21 points. Derrick Ogechi contributed 15, while captain Tylor Ongwae added 14 as the champions turned their reprieve into an opening victory.
Jason Kesseng finished with 13 points for KPA, and Brownlee scored 11. The result extended the Dockers’ wait for a win over Thunder, whom they have not beaten since the 2024 season.
