Basketball in Africa

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo (

Results – Friday
Falcons 57-46 KIU
Ndejje 79-86 UCU (OT)
Women: A-1 66-64 KCC
Today at YMCA
KCC v Miracle (5.30pm)
Women: Nabisunsa v KCC (4pm)

The healing process of A1 Challenge received a massive boost with a nervy 66-64 victory over KCC Leopards in the MTN-Fuba women’s League on Friday night at YMCA court, Wandegeya.

On a night when games started two hours late due to guild elections at YMCA, A1 edged champions KCC in a thrilling repeat of last year’s best-of-seven series final which the latter won 4-1.

A1’s Agnes Nantongo (14) and Vicky Nassolo (10) combined for 24 points as the low scoring contest swung in favour of either side play. MVP Miriam Hamala contributed 10 points in the champions’ second defeat this season but didn’t receive sufficient support.

“It’s was important to pay attention to every detail,” A1’s Olivia Mulwana, acting as an assistant to coach Hamza Nyambogo, told Sunday Monitor.
Earlier, UCU Canons protected their unbeaten start to the season with hard-fought 86-79 overtime (OT) win over Ndejje University Angels. The ill-tempered contest ended 68-all in regulation time.

With Ndejje leading 67-66, Cyrus Kiviri missed one of two free throws inside the final 10 seconds and was duly punished when UCU’s Ivan Enabu (12) converted his pair to deliver the season’s first OT game.

Experienced Geoff Omondi sunk eight of his 14 points in OT to hand UCU victory as a collective effort saw three teammates in double figures. Robert Mugabe (12) and Jimmy Enabu (10) were the others.

As the clock breezed past mid-night, Mountain Dew Falcons also grabbed a 57-46 win over KIU Titans. Falcons started slowly, trailing 5-16 after the first quarter before fighting back to take the final three 18-5, 18-10 and 17-15 respectively.
Saidi Marine scored a trivial game-high 20 points for Kampala International University.