Basketball in Africa

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

RESULTS
Falcons 72 -83 UCU Canons
Power 51-54 KIU
Women
KCC Leopards 61-59 KIU

UGANDA Christian University (UCU) Mukono rallied in the second half to beat MTN champions Mogas Falcons 83-72 on day one of the MTN Basketball League Friday night at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

Canons, regular season champions last year, gained ‘revenge’ on the team that ousted them 2-1 in the best of three semifinal play-offs and sent a signal they can compete for the top prize this season.

Ivan Enabu grabbed a game high 22 points and Geoffrey Omondi added 18 to help the Mukono-based side dominate the second half of the game that had kept fans on their toes in the opening session.

Falcons had a 24-23 advantage at the end of first half but were hit for 24-16 in the second and their efforts to recover were futile. Canons sunk in 27 points compared to Falcons’ 15 in the third session and the champions’ 16-9 fourth quarter victory counted for little.

The Malinga brothers Henry and Eric combined for 41 points but simply couldn’t hold off UCU, who shot 12 three-pointers.
The bruising encounter was though full of physical contests and referees were on many occasions caught napping.

In the other men’s game, Isaac Afridra’s return to Sadolin Power couldn’t inspire the 2000 champions to victory over Kampala International University (KIU). Afidra, who ironically, crossed from KIU after last season, scored 17 points and Ken Balyejusa added 10 but went on to lose 54-51 to KIU.

Michael Karuiki, recruited from Youth Heaters collected a game high 22 points for KIU. Elsewhere, women defending champions KCC Leopards, registered a narrow 61-59 victory over KIU Rangers. Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Linda Tamale had 13 points to her name while Marion Nakaziba, snatched from Makerere Sparks added 9 for KCC Leopards.