Basketball in Africa

By Charles Mutebi

Wednesday’s results
Crane 48 Cubs 47
KIU 58 Amazon 40

Men
Power 87 Miracle 83

Today, Lugogo
UCU v KCC (women)

Men
UCU v Rhino 7:00pm
Marines v Falcons 9:00pm
Saturday, YMCA
Sparks v Lakers
Amazon v A1

Men
Livingstone v Lubiri
Crane v Vegetarian
Jammers v Rocks
Riders v Warriors
Sunday
Nabisunsa v Crane
KIU v KCC
Men
Ndejje v Berkely
St. Micheal v Bugema
Bushcourt v KCC
KIU v Heaters

NKUMBA Marines’ tussle with the Falcons for a place in the play-offs tonight presents them with a lifeline even after their coach conceded that last week’s loss to Sadolin Power had put the play-off destiny out of their hands.

Timothy Odeke made the admission after the defending champions’ first loss in three games. Marines wanted to keep the winning run intact to be sure of a play-off spot.

They now have the unenviable task of winning all their remaining games, and hope that the Falcons also suffer a late collapse.

Both teams are tied on 18 points but Marines have played a game more.

Worse for the Entebbe-based side is that the first round walk-over conceded to the Heaters denies them a fairly assured second round win. Walk-overs are carried to the second round.
The implication is that even if Marines win tonight, Falcons will still overtake them if the latter win theirs.

Meanwhile table leaders UCU Canons should make it 13 out of 13 when they play Charging Rhinos in the other men’s fixture.
But their female counterparts will need to be at their best if they are to taint KCC’s perfect run.