Basketball in Africa

Results – Friday
Miracle 90-48 Marines
Women
Amazon 25-106 KCC
Today at YMCA
Berkley v Power (7.30pm)
Heaters v Rhino (3.30pm)
Crane v Kings (11.30am)
UCU v Stormers (9.30am)
Women
KIU v Bucks (5.30pm)

If Miracle Eagles are to get into the MTN-Fuba League play-offs for the first time, they must reproduce performances like Friday night’s 90-48 crushing of Nkumba Marines.

The Rubaga-based team came within a whisker of perfection to decimate a tame Marines side, who have earned the tag of ‘party spoilers’ following their recent victory over champions Kyambogo Warriors

Miracle’s success was again emblazoned in Stephen Omony as the star came within one assist of clinching a rare triple double having scored a game-high 24 points and picked 10 rebounds.
Wearing a huge smile, coach Brian Rugyendo sounded not too pleased with the plaudits received from the fair crowd at YMCA court, Wandegeya as his team took the first quarter 24-11 but wobbled in the next two.

“It wasn’t a perfect night as the players thought the game had been won too early,” Rugyendo told Sunday Monitor. Marines took the second quarter 17-13 to close the gap to five points. This re-awakened Miracle with Ceasre Mukalazi shooting five three-pointers on his way to 23 points and four steals

Normal business was resumed instantly with Miracle taking the final two periods 21-15 and 31-5 respectively.

At this point, a seemingly disinterested Marines incensed their coach Timothy Odeke by going six minutes and six seconds without scoring at the start of the fourth period.
Even in defeat, Philip Wakimwero stood tall with 16 points and seven rebounds whereas Wilson Otweyo added 14.

In the women’s division, champions KCC Leopards dispatched Amazon 106-25 in convincing fashion.