Basketball in Africa

Friday results
M: Power 90-78 UCU Canons
W: KIU 64-50 A1 Challenge
Today at YMCA
W: Nabisunsa v UCU (4pm)
Division Three
Shooters v Air Force (6pm)
Bush Court v K’la Univ. (2pm)
Sky Jammers v Emperors (12pm)
Sharing v Shooters (10am)

Friday night was long coming. And when it came, DMark Power fans had reason to have waited this long for their team play like the MTN-Fuba League champions. A huge crowd skewed heavily in favour of UCU Canons left YMCA court disappointed after the university side folded to lose 90-78.

Above all, it is the imminent resurrection of a charged Joseph Ikong and the effectiveness of the quick transition that must have caught everyone’s attention. Last season’s regular season top scorer had 12 points. They might look few after Isaac Luggude came off the bench for a team-high 17 but to Ikong, this was by far his best game in ages.

Double double
Coach Bernice Ankunda definitely has to demand a repeat soon from his team who took all four periods 20-16, 23-21, 18-14 and 29-27 respectively. “I don’t know why most fans believe every game is supposed to be good,” Isaac Afidra said in defence of the documented struggles. The forward scored 16 points and 10 rebounds on his return.
UCU were helpless as the joy of sweeping 7UP Falcons 80-69 last Friday was washed away by committing 33 turnovers with guards Sudi Ulanga, Sande Okot and Geoff Omondi contributing six apiece. Bossing the paint 46-37 never mattered at all.
“We had so many lapses and didn’t play well towards the end of each quarter as planned. Power punished all our mistakes,” Nick Natuhereza, the beaten coach on the night, said. Afidra wished he had dished even more punishment after Ulanga had a game-high 21.
“There is need to step up on defence. Sudi got so many easy points,” an unsatisfied two-time champion said. Power improved to 7-1, one victory behind leaders Kyambogo Warriors (8-1). Jimmy Enabu (14) and Ricahrd Balemwa (10) epitomized the depth of Power as UCU fell to 5-4 despite the fighting efforts of Omondi (18), Martin Okwako (13) and the ultimate slam-dunk entertainer Desmond Owili (11). In the early game, KIU Rangers beat a lethargic A1 Challenge 64-50. Liz Baziira scored a futile 22 points and picked 10 boards.