29 November 2011
UGANDA : Power await winner of UCU-Warriors Game 5
DMark Power normally come to YMCA court on days like this to go through their paces. Today, they will be there as spectators and judges.
The champions will definitely struggle to be impartial as Warriors and UCU Canons clash in the decisive Game Five of their semifinal series.
Power take a deserved the day-off. Coach Bernice Ankunda’s side beat Miracle Eagles 84-79 on Sunday night to clinch the series 3-1. That gave them a place in a fourth successive final with a game to spare.
Ankunda has a preference. “I would prefer Warriors. UCU are more technical,” he said, rather jokingly. The players will concentrate on analyzing their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
One of the things that must occupy them is how to beat the zonal defence. Whenever Miracle have used it in the just- ended series, the four-time national champions have laboured for options.
Komakech masterclass
The champions will definitely struggle to be impartial as Warriors and UCU Canons clash in the decisive Game Five of their semifinal series.
Power take a deserved the day-off. Coach Bernice Ankunda’s side beat Miracle Eagles 84-79 on Sunday night to clinch the series 3-1. That gave them a place in a fourth successive final with a game to spare.
Ankunda has a preference. “I would prefer Warriors. UCU are more technical,” he said, rather jokingly. The players will concentrate on analyzing their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
One of the things that must occupy them is how to beat the zonal defence. Whenever Miracle have used it in the just- ended series, the four-time national champions have laboured for options.
Komakech masterclass
Warriors and UCU are brilliant at it. However, such is the quality of Power that they often get an out of jail card – Ben Komakech. The two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) scored 20 points and five assists to roll over Miracle who looked drained by their first appearance in the playoffs.
Belief drives UCU against Warriors
Despite leading 21-18 after the first period, Power hit back superbly to win the second 29-14. That proved the turning point. Miracle edged the final two 21-17 and 23-20 respectively.
“Mentally, we were not at par with Power. They were the better side,”Joe Burua, the beaten coach, said. He can take heart from the little moments like winning Game One 80-65 before losing the superseding three to bow out.
Power were not as dominant as Game Three which they won 82-65. It didn’t matter even if skipper Isaac Afidra had 10 points and 10 rebounds. He had 19-15 in the game that surely broke Miracle’s resistance.
Stephen Omony bowed out with a game-high 22 points and 12 boards. His partner Norman Blick, formerly with Power, ended a fluctuating first season on 20 points and eight assists.
The next few months will offer answers on where the Miracle go from here. If Warriors win today, the league will have the same men’s finalists for a third successive season. UCU will be nervy to see if centre Robert Ogweno recovers to lead their charge to a first appearance in the finals.
# posted by afrbk : 14:44
