Basketball in Africa

he national basketball league returns today with a spicy tie between high flying Power and the hard-fighting Miracle.

Power are buoyant after their impressive defeat of Marines in their last game but the Miracles are capable of clipping their wings and dragging them back into the bloody playoff fight.

The game should be played at high pace as both teams do a lot of damage on the fast break led by their array of skillful guards. Power's more lethal big men may be the difference.

Power are favourites but will be under all the pressure as their opponents have nothing to lose.

Third-placed Power on 21 points look relatively assured of the playoffs, but a loss could open up a three way battle for two positions with both Falcons and Marines who are a further two points back.

Meanwhile, the KIU Rangers should be able to maintain their playoff-bound charge when they battle Amazon in the bigger of the two women's game on show, far from what can be said of their male counterparts, who stumbled for the third time in succession against Warriors on Sunday.

The latter's 88-66 win over KIU further confirms their transition from mid-table pretenders to title contenders and lifts them to top spot with a point ahead of Uganda Christian University Canons on 22, although they have played a game in hand.