27 November 2007
UGANDA : How Falcons got their groove back
Results
Falcons 77-68 Warriors
Leopards 55-52 A-1
MOGAs Falcons were never in doubt that they would win their sixth league title.
“There is no way Warriors can beat us in two straight games. We are going to push them to the decisive Game 5 and win the series 3-2,” Falcons team manager John Ssimbwa predicted after his team had lost the opening two games of the series last week.
And his prediction came to pass as Falcons came from behind to take the best of five series 3-2 after a 77-68 Game Five victory on Friday and win their record sixth championship.
Offensive game
Warriors coach Ambrose Tashobya admitted Falcons have the best post players in Malinga brothers Eric and Henry, and it's the duo that did the damage.
In the opening two games, which Warriors won 77-71 and 68-57 respectively, the Malingas were kept at bay. Actually in Game One, Henry was limited to only six points.
But in the third fixture, Eric found space to roam in their paint at will. In the decisive game, Eric was again given too much space, and finished with a game high with 23 points.
Foul trouble
Diego Angemi played a very big role in Warriors' march to the ultimate stage. Foul trouble was their undoing in Game 3.
Angemi amassed four fouls in three quarters and had to sit on the bench for the bigger part. With three minutes left, Angemi came on, made two quick steals and brought Warriors within touch (60-63), but then fouled out seconds later.
Olumbo factor
Kenyan coach Thomas 'Smatts' Olumbo is a miraculous tactician. He is a kind of coach who makes players believe that they can overturn a 100-point deficit in one minute. It was not a surprise that Falcons came from behind to win Game Three and Four. It was only in the last game that the record champions led from start to finish.
“All I want from the players is to express themselves on court because it's just a game of basketball,” he told Daily Monitor.
Falcons 77-68 Warriors
Leopards 55-52 A-1
MOGAs Falcons were never in doubt that they would win their sixth league title.
“There is no way Warriors can beat us in two straight games. We are going to push them to the decisive Game 5 and win the series 3-2,” Falcons team manager John Ssimbwa predicted after his team had lost the opening two games of the series last week.
And his prediction came to pass as Falcons came from behind to take the best of five series 3-2 after a 77-68 Game Five victory on Friday and win their record sixth championship.
Offensive game
Warriors coach Ambrose Tashobya admitted Falcons have the best post players in Malinga brothers Eric and Henry, and it's the duo that did the damage.
In the opening two games, which Warriors won 77-71 and 68-57 respectively, the Malingas were kept at bay. Actually in Game One, Henry was limited to only six points.
But in the third fixture, Eric found space to roam in their paint at will. In the decisive game, Eric was again given too much space, and finished with a game high with 23 points.
Foul trouble
Diego Angemi played a very big role in Warriors' march to the ultimate stage. Foul trouble was their undoing in Game 3.
Angemi amassed four fouls in three quarters and had to sit on the bench for the bigger part. With three minutes left, Angemi came on, made two quick steals and brought Warriors within touch (60-63), but then fouled out seconds later.
Olumbo factor
Kenyan coach Thomas 'Smatts' Olumbo is a miraculous tactician. He is a kind of coach who makes players believe that they can overturn a 100-point deficit in one minute. It was not a surprise that Falcons came from behind to win Game Three and Four. It was only in the last game that the record champions led from start to finish.
“All I want from the players is to express themselves on court because it's just a game of basketball,” he told Daily Monitor.
# posted by afrbk : 14:08
