25 August 2011
UGANDA : Power-Warriors III?
Written by Felix Eupal
The basketball league second round rolls off this Friday but despite the meteoric rise of Miracle Eagles, it’s most likely going to be a familiar storyline when the dust settles, writes Felix Eupal
Despite everything we’ve heard about the meteoric rise of Miracle Eagles, it will be a familiar storyline when the dust settles. We are definitely going to hear about them over the next three months - about their Big Two (Stephen Omony and Norman Blick) but there is little chance of them preventing the much anticipated trilogy between champs Dmark Power and Kyambogo Warriors, which have contested the past two playoff finals.
Warriors were the form team in round one, winning all but one of their nine matches while Power and Miracle are both at 7-2. The fact that Miracle lost both first round matches to their rivals only tells half the story. Why I’m I so sure? Because basketball is not a two-on-two sport. Boasting the country’s best two players is not enough when the other three don’t match the opposition.
It’s also because the Eagles don’t have the depth to match up with the frontrunners. Then again, it could be because this is the fifth season many of Power and Warriors’ key players have been together, while this is the first time Omony and Blick are joining forces at club level. Normally, teams need to go through the several playoff disappointments to carry off the trophy (yes, Warriors did it in 2009).
That said, no doubt Miracle will be a major talking point; a team that has transformed from relegation candidates of two years ago to serious title contenders. But when push comes to shove, Miracle might not even be assured of a playoff place.
That’s because the 7Up Falcons still holds a slim chance of overturning Fuba’s point deductions. Should they succeed, the balance would be tipped; they stand to win back four precious points. Meanwhile, the clash against UCU Canons, currently lying fourth, could also go a long way in deciding who makes it to the final four.
The basketball league second round rolls off this Friday but despite the meteoric rise of Miracle Eagles, it’s most likely going to be a familiar storyline when the dust settles, writes Felix Eupal
Despite everything we’ve heard about the meteoric rise of Miracle Eagles, it will be a familiar storyline when the dust settles. We are definitely going to hear about them over the next three months - about their Big Two (Stephen Omony and Norman Blick) but there is little chance of them preventing the much anticipated trilogy between champs Dmark Power and Kyambogo Warriors, which have contested the past two playoff finals.
Warriors were the form team in round one, winning all but one of their nine matches while Power and Miracle are both at 7-2. The fact that Miracle lost both first round matches to their rivals only tells half the story. Why I’m I so sure? Because basketball is not a two-on-two sport. Boasting the country’s best two players is not enough when the other three don’t match the opposition.
It’s also because the Eagles don’t have the depth to match up with the frontrunners. Then again, it could be because this is the fifth season many of Power and Warriors’ key players have been together, while this is the first time Omony and Blick are joining forces at club level. Normally, teams need to go through the several playoff disappointments to carry off the trophy (yes, Warriors did it in 2009).
That said, no doubt Miracle will be a major talking point; a team that has transformed from relegation candidates of two years ago to serious title contenders. But when push comes to shove, Miracle might not even be assured of a playoff place.
That’s because the 7Up Falcons still holds a slim chance of overturning Fuba’s point deductions. Should they succeed, the balance would be tipped; they stand to win back four precious points. Meanwhile, the clash against UCU Canons, currently lying fourth, could also go a long way in deciding who makes it to the final four.
# posted by afrbk : 10:18
