23 December 2011
UGANDA : 2011 Review - End of Year Honours in Basketball
The 2011 basketball season will go down as one of the most dramatic ever; from the seven-game playoff final thriller, between Dmark Power and Kyambogo Warriors, to the controversial failure of 7Up Falcons to make the playoffs and UCU Canons playing an entire season with just eight players.
Felix Eupal awards the best and worst of 2011.
Regular season MVP Men: Without doubt it's got to be Warriors' Ivan Enabu. His wizardry with the ball was second to none.
Regular Season MVP Women: Flavia Oketcho returned from a long maternity break and straightaway went back to notching three pointers like she hadn't been away. Her performance was the reason KCCA Leopards lost just one game in the regular season.
Defensive player of the Year: The stats don't give the right picture but most players will tell you they endured hell when they faced Canons' Jeff Omondi.
Sixth man of the Year: I give the nod to Richard Balemwa. He hardly started any game but he offered Power the much-needed depth whenever he came off the bench.
Coach of the Year: Bernice Ankunda was the brain behind Power's second successive title. He transformed a team that had 'indiscipline' as their middle name and turned them into a bunch of dutiful soldiers.
Most Improved Player: Sam Gombya is undisputed in this regard and turned from zero to hero, coming off the bench to finish off the Canons in game four of the semis and even tormenting Power in the final.
Rookie of the Year: Nabisunsa's 18-year-old Joy Chemutai is the runaway winner and has every big team eyeing her services after her series of dazzling performances this season.
Worst Player: He follows wherever Norman Blick, his elder brother, goes but despite having four championships to his name, Donald Blick was a disaster in the Miracle Eagles jersey.
Worst Referee: This page wouldn't be enough if I was to note down Peter Kirabo's poor calls.
Mess of the Year: After attracting capacity crowds during the regular season, Fuba knew the numbers would swell during the playoffs and seized the opportunity to make a quick buck by increasing the entry fee by 100% to Shs 10,000.
Some fans exercised their power by shunning the games and opted for the nearest bars, forcing a shamefaced Fuba to reverse the decision.
Men Playoff MVP: It's a tough call between Ben Komakech and Isaac Afidra but my nod goes to Koma for his overall influence and contribution to Power's championship.
Women Playoff MVP: Interestingly, only Ugandans have won the award before but Purity Odhiambo, the Lady Canons' Kenyan import, slightly edges compatriot Moreen Amoding for the award.
She redefined post play in the women's league and is the reason they swept KCCA Leopards 4-0 in the final.
Felix Eupal awards the best and worst of 2011.
Regular season MVP Men: Without doubt it's got to be Warriors' Ivan Enabu. His wizardry with the ball was second to none.
Regular Season MVP Women: Flavia Oketcho returned from a long maternity break and straightaway went back to notching three pointers like she hadn't been away. Her performance was the reason KCCA Leopards lost just one game in the regular season.
Defensive player of the Year: The stats don't give the right picture but most players will tell you they endured hell when they faced Canons' Jeff Omondi.
Sixth man of the Year: I give the nod to Richard Balemwa. He hardly started any game but he offered Power the much-needed depth whenever he came off the bench.
Coach of the Year: Bernice Ankunda was the brain behind Power's second successive title. He transformed a team that had 'indiscipline' as their middle name and turned them into a bunch of dutiful soldiers.
Most Improved Player: Sam Gombya is undisputed in this regard and turned from zero to hero, coming off the bench to finish off the Canons in game four of the semis and even tormenting Power in the final.
Rookie of the Year: Nabisunsa's 18-year-old Joy Chemutai is the runaway winner and has every big team eyeing her services after her series of dazzling performances this season.
Worst Player: He follows wherever Norman Blick, his elder brother, goes but despite having four championships to his name, Donald Blick was a disaster in the Miracle Eagles jersey.
Worst Referee: This page wouldn't be enough if I was to note down Peter Kirabo's poor calls.
Mess of the Year: After attracting capacity crowds during the regular season, Fuba knew the numbers would swell during the playoffs and seized the opportunity to make a quick buck by increasing the entry fee by 100% to Shs 10,000.
Some fans exercised their power by shunning the games and opted for the nearest bars, forcing a shamefaced Fuba to reverse the decision.
Men Playoff MVP: It's a tough call between Ben Komakech and Isaac Afidra but my nod goes to Koma for his overall influence and contribution to Power's championship.
Women Playoff MVP: Interestingly, only Ugandans have won the award before but Purity Odhiambo, the Lady Canons' Kenyan import, slightly edges compatriot Moreen Amoding for the award.
She redefined post play in the women's league and is the reason they swept KCCA Leopards 4-0 in the final.
# posted by afrbk : 11:19
