Basketball in Africa

Friday results
Power 93-77 Warriors
Women
UCU 64-46 A1 Challenge
(Power, UCU lead series 1-0)
Today at Lugogo
Warriors v Power (8pm)
A1 v UCU (6pm)
Div II & 111
Rhinos v Heaters (4pm)
Stormers v UCU JV (2pm)

It was too easy on the eye that it’s easy to think DMark Power and UCU Lady Canons might well have their cake and eat it following their commanding victories in Game One of the best-of-seven MTN-Fuba League finals, Friday.

Power decimated Kyambogo Warriors 93-77 moments after UCU’s 64-46 annihilation of A1 Challenge to take a 1-0 lead ahead of Game Two at Lugogo today. To stand any chance of instigating a recovery, Warriors need a quick answer to Isaac Afidra and the Power machine if they are to repeat their 4-1 victory over the same opposition in last year’s final.

Fueled by revenge, Afidra had 23 points, five rebounds and three assists as his more complete team took charge against the champions early. Power were quick to assume the lead in the first two periods 29-17 and 22-17 respectively for a 17-point lead at the break. Old tricks die hard but Warriors need new ones. “Our shots didn’t drop even though we had many open chances,” reigning MVP Ronnie Kasewu (11 points) told Sunday Monitor in reference to Warriors’ 16 futile downtown attempts.

In clinching a 3-2 semifinal win over UCU Canons, Warriors coach Gad Eteu conducted his halftime team talk outside the venue with his team trailing by nine points at the time. This time, though, Warriors needed a lot more than just fresh air in addition to negating the quick transition.

Power kept them at arm’s length despite Abdullahi Ramadhan and Stephen Okias coming to the party with 15 points apiece for Warriors to snatch the final two quarters 21-20 and 22-22.
There were too many weapons to silence. Norman Blick (17), Ben Komakech (13) Joseph Ikong (10) compounded Warriors’ misery. The frustration spilled over to Joshua Etalu and Kenyan Martin Okwako being ejected. “Warriors are defending champions and we respect that. It was one of those days when it worked for us and not them,” Komakech, who recorded 10 assists, said.

In the early game, Anastasia Njeri (15), Maureen Amoding (14), Brenda Mbone (10) and Lorraine Akinyi (10) made double figures in UCU’s victory over A1 Challenge.