By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –

DEFENDING champions Matero Magic can today retain their national title with a win over Green Buffaloes as they head into the best of fives finals with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Buffaloes know they need to win to stay alive in this five game series and will play with such desperation ahead of the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) national championship finals.

The series have been close considering the manner of defeats Buffaloes have suffered and it should give them plenty of encouragement going into game three. The army side needs to rescue the series from the jaws of the experienced and still hungry Magic team.

Adding spice to the feisty series, Magic chairperson Sydney Siame threw some shade at his foes, saying Buffaloes needed to learn to see off games, be disciplined instead of playing against game officials.

Buffaloes coach Joseph Mhango was of the view that his team has been on the wrong side of bad calls by the officials while Magic players easily got a jail pass in the two games played sighting the ejection and technical fouls.

If both teams decide to play basketball today, fans can expect a good ball game worthy of the occasion.

Magic coach Obert Shamboko wants his charges to close the series by sweeping the debutants, saying it has been a long season though it looks like Buffaloes will have plenty to say about that.

Meanwhile, in the feminine event, UNZA Honeys, who lost their way in the first game against Nishati Shells, rebounded well to win two games on the trot and lead the series 2-1.

Honeys have the momentum in their favour and will look to finish the series instead of stretching it further by winning game three today but Shells will be fighting for their basketball lives.

In league B, Magic B took down the Nishati Denvers in game three by half a basket to take a 2-1 lead, posting a 64-63 score line. Denvers will need a big performance in game four to even the series and avoid elimination.

The national champions will receive K4,500, a trophy and medals in both the masculine and feminine categories while B league champions will get a trophy and medals.

Runners up in both the men and feminine will walk away with K2,500, a trophy and medals while the Most Valuable Player gets a trophy.

However, presentation of prizes will only be held today should leading teams win and might be moved to tomorrow should the trailing teams win.