Basketball in Africa

This feat is inscribed in 14 years of toil. Miracle’s qualification success came at the expense of Uganda’s most successful side, Falcons, failing to make it to this stage for the very first time.

That should show the huge gap between the two especially if you factor in Power having never lost to Miracle in recent memory and completing the double over them this season.

First time

Power edged both games 96-91 and 70-66 respectively. “There is always a first time,” Chris Kyebambe, Miracle’s multi-tasking stand-in coach, team manager and player, said.

The acquisition of the illustrious Norman Blick, a four-time champion with Sky Jammers, Nkumba Marines (2) and Power, leaves them with little to fear. He and Stephen Omony know this stage more than so many in the division. These two sides, both with good depth, are similar as they rely on the back court players.

Shooting and transition basketball is their forte. Events of the past week matter little for Power as they were beaten 79-70 by visiting Sudanese side Bilfam Warriors in a friendly and Warriors (94-96).

MVP Ben Komakech normally shows up now and the 19 points in the latter game were a reminder of his abilities for team whose most consistent offensive player this season has been Isaac Luggudde.

Women’s side KCC Leopards and KIU Rangers will set the stage. KCC took both regular season games but the university side should be buoyed by the close shave in the second round where they lost 42-41. The former champions will forever point to the confidence earned from taking part in the Fiba Africa Zone V Championships in Tanzania last month. In the men’s Division Two, Rez Life have quickly rebuilt after relegation from Division One as Berkley last year to finish top.

UCU JV have a shot at successive promotions having only moved from Division Three.