Basketball in Africa

by Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Lugogo

Reults (Friday)
Falcons 87-83 UCU Canons
Warriors 112-91 Miracle
KCC Leopards 61-50 Lady Canons
Today (YMCA)
Marines v KIU (6.30pm)
Women
Nabisunsa v KIU Rangers (5pm)
KCC Leopards v Crane High (2pm)

UCU Canons squandered a 10-point lead going into the last quarter and star guard Ivan Enabu missed one of two free throws with six seconds on the clock before his side lost to Mogas Falcons 83-87 on Friday night in an exciting MTN-Fuba National Basketball League game at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

Drama and tension filled Lugogo as UCU trailed the six-time champions by a single point (72-73) when a foul was called on Enabu with one second on the clock but despite loud cheers from UCU fans, he could only sink one of the two free throws to send the game into O/T rather than win it.
“I cannot blame nerves or anything. We gave away the game because of fatigue having played on Wednesday (against Nkumba Marines) then trained on Thursday before facing Falcons,” a disconsolate Enabu who had a game-high 21 points told Sunday Monitor after the game. On-form Steven Mwesigye added 17 points while Ken Rooti contributed 14 to UCU Canon’s futile cause.

It was UCU’s third defeat in five games but they will take heart from a strong defensive performance which restricted Stephen Omony to 17 points and the Malinga brothers – Henry and Eric – to 15 and 11 points respectively.

Carlos Ochi was the unlikely hero for Falcons, coming off the bench in O/T to sink five points and ensure that his team outscored UCU Canons 14-5 in the extra session to break the deadlock.
“It’s hard to find positives in a defeat but its good we lost so we can see all our mistakes and rectify them,” Enabu remarked. Coach-cum-player Robert Mugabe’s UCU Canons had previously edged KIU (in O/T) and Miracle Eagles (by a single point).

In an earlier men’s game, Steven Okias plundered 33 points to lead Kyambogo Warriors to a 112-91 victory over Miracle Eagles.

In the women’s category, 2007 champions KCC Leopards built upon Mirian Hamala (13 points) and Flavia Oketcho (10) to stun holders UCU Lady Canons 61-50.
All games from today will be played at YMCA courts.