Basketball in Africa

Friday night must have created some kind of self doubt within Miracle Eagles ahead of their maiden appearance in the MTN-Fuba League postseason.

A 46-63 loss to Kyambogo Warriors at YMCA court was never the ideal preparation. The margin, despite not showing how close the game was for a large part of three quarters, exposed the gap between the two.
Whereas Ivan Enabu found the extra thing to light up a low-scoring contest, Miracle wilted as Warriors completed the season double. They won the first round game 79-70.
The clash was very cagey with Warriors edging the first period 15-10 before Miracle hit back in a dull second 9-6 and clinching the third 14-11. Both teams struggled
Someone had to take charge and Enabu, an off-season signing from UCU Canons, seized the opportunity. He scored eight unanswered points in a 40-second explosion mid-way through the final quarter.

The guard finished with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Enabu’s speed, agility, skills and invention all came to the fore.
When they did foul him, he responded with a perfect eight from eight on the charity line. This is one area Enabu has improved greatly.
“Miracle played very tough defence in the first three quarters so we opted for an inside game,” Warriors coach Mandy Juruni said.
Somehow, Enabu didn’t get loud applause from Juruni. “I think the players showed lots of desire,” the coach noted.
Warriors have now beaten all the three other teams in the play-off positions having already toppled UCU Canons (twice) and DMark Power.
Miracle skipper Stephen Omony, who had a poor night with six points and 16 rebounds, doesn’t see a problem psychologically. “On the contrary, we will take this as motivation and a lesson,” Omony said.