26 November 2007
UGANDA : Falcons, Leopards are 2007 champions
Results
KCC 55-52 A-1 Cha’ge
Falcons 77-68 Warriors
MOGAS Falcons have defied all odds to win this year’s MTN-Fuba Basketball League Championship after edging Kyambogo Warriors 3-2 in the best of five final play-off series.
Skipper Eric Malinga led by example, gunning a game high 22 points while his brother Henry contributed 18 and cleared the boards with precision for Falcons to win the decisive Game Five 77-68 and wrap up the series at Lugogo Indoor Stadium on Friday night.
Falcons, who struggled to qualify for play-offs, seemed out of sorts and few if any gave them chance to lift their sixth championship but a combination of experience and good tactics carried them all the way.
Playing in the finals for the first time, Warriors had won the opening two games of the series but failed to tame Thomas ‘Smatts’ Olumbo’s charges when it mattered most.
The Kenyan tactician came to Falcons’ rescue at the semi-final stage when they had lost Game One to UCU Canons and led them to a 2-1 victory in the best of three series. He did the same against Warriors and his efforts paid off in dividends.
“There is nothing much I did. I only gave the boys confidence by telling them to go out and enjoy themselves in the game,” Olumbo told Daily Monitor.
Ronnie Kasewu caused all sorts of trouble to the Falcons’ defence on Friday but his individual brilliance could not save Warriors from defeat. He grabbed 17 points while two-time league top scorer Stephen Okias scored equally the same number of points to retain his crown.
Earlier Kampala City Coucil (KCC) Leopards had downed A-1 Challenge 55-52 to win their first ever women’s title. The Mayor’s women made up for last season’s disappointing performance that saw them go through the regular season unbeaten only to lose to Lady Bucks in the final.
Spurred by Annet Nakiwu, Leopards held their nerves to win the determininat Game 5, taking the series 3-2. Nakiwu and Becky Akullo collected 14 points apiece for KCC.
Meanwhile, professional boxer Kassim Ouma, who is in the country on a short holiday has organised a party for all the teams that made the finals. Ouma announced on Friday at Lugogo that all players and team officials should turn up at Club Rouge tonight.
KCC 55-52 A-1 Cha’ge
Falcons 77-68 Warriors
MOGAS Falcons have defied all odds to win this year’s MTN-Fuba Basketball League Championship after edging Kyambogo Warriors 3-2 in the best of five final play-off series.
Skipper Eric Malinga led by example, gunning a game high 22 points while his brother Henry contributed 18 and cleared the boards with precision for Falcons to win the decisive Game Five 77-68 and wrap up the series at Lugogo Indoor Stadium on Friday night.
Falcons, who struggled to qualify for play-offs, seemed out of sorts and few if any gave them chance to lift their sixth championship but a combination of experience and good tactics carried them all the way.
Playing in the finals for the first time, Warriors had won the opening two games of the series but failed to tame Thomas ‘Smatts’ Olumbo’s charges when it mattered most.
The Kenyan tactician came to Falcons’ rescue at the semi-final stage when they had lost Game One to UCU Canons and led them to a 2-1 victory in the best of three series. He did the same against Warriors and his efforts paid off in dividends.
“There is nothing much I did. I only gave the boys confidence by telling them to go out and enjoy themselves in the game,” Olumbo told Daily Monitor.
Ronnie Kasewu caused all sorts of trouble to the Falcons’ defence on Friday but his individual brilliance could not save Warriors from defeat. He grabbed 17 points while two-time league top scorer Stephen Okias scored equally the same number of points to retain his crown.
Earlier Kampala City Coucil (KCC) Leopards had downed A-1 Challenge 55-52 to win their first ever women’s title. The Mayor’s women made up for last season’s disappointing performance that saw them go through the regular season unbeaten only to lose to Lady Bucks in the final.
Spurred by Annet Nakiwu, Leopards held their nerves to win the determininat Game 5, taking the series 3-2. Nakiwu and Becky Akullo collected 14 points apiece for KCC.
Meanwhile, professional boxer Kassim Ouma, who is in the country on a short holiday has organised a party for all the teams that made the finals. Ouma announced on Friday at Lugogo that all players and team officials should turn up at Club Rouge tonight.
# posted by afrbk : 14:43
