Basketball in Africa

Just two games into the MTN-Fuba League finals and blanket conclusions about the destiny of the men and women’s titles are being made.


Warriors and UCU Lady Canons have been so dominant against Power and KCC Leopards respectively that the discussions are shifting to whether the latter two can avoid being swept. Such has been the difference between the sides that a 2-0 lead is everything Warriors and UCU deserve in the seven-match series.
Both series have been extremely one-sided and anti-climatic. Power’s grip on the title they won last year after beating Warriors 4-3 is being loosened fast. Besides negating the size advantage widely enjoyed by Warriors, Power need a bailout from their big players –Ben Komakech and Isaac Afidra. The duo are playing within themselves.

Point guard Komakech has managed 29 points and nine assists to go with five turnovers in the finals so far. Skipper Afidra, a forward, has 20 points and 17 rebounds plus six turnovers. That has translated into Warriors coasting to one-sided 88-73 and 80-61 victories. All this has been painful to watch for Bernice Ankunda, the Power coach. Upon the completion of the semifinals with Miracle Eagles which Power won 3-1, Ankunda told Daily Monitor that he preferred Warriors in the finals as they laboured 3-2 past UCU Canons.
His intuition has backfired. “We need to work on our composure,” Ankunda said. He needs to win at least three games to avert this crisis that had centre Robert Wanitho break his leg in Game Two.
“There won’t be a trophy awarded on Saturday,” he added in total defiance of a clean sweep which would imply the men’s final ends this weekend. KCC are perhaps in worse shape than Power having been pounded 57-65 and 75-55 by UCU.
Elsewhere, Miracle Eagles have secured third place after UCU Canons opted out of yesterday’s classification match. “We can’t raise a team because of injuries. We are also focusing on the Inter-University Games,” UCU team manager Dale Scully said yesterday.

Playing today
Third place play-off
Stormers vs. KIU Rangers, 5pm
Finals (Game 3)
M: Warriors vs. Power (9pm)
W: UCU vs. KCC (7pm)
(Warriors, UCU lead series 2-0)