14 December 2011
UGANDA : Caged Warriors plot jail escape
PLAYING TODAY
M: DMark Power vs. Warriors (8.30pm)
(Power lead series 3-2)
Div. 2: Rez Life vs. Vegetarian (6.30pm)
(Series tied 2-2)
An MTN-Fuba League best-of-seven final series that promised so much has lived up to its billing. First, Warriors did call the shots by winning the first two games to take a 2-0 lead. The tables have turned dramatically now as DMark Power have won three on the bounce to assume a 3-2 lead and can complete the defence of their crown with victory in Game Six at YMCA court today.
It’s not a new position for Warriors who need a dramatic jail escape to force a decider scheduled for Friday. They trailed 2-1 against UCU Canons in the five-match semifinal series but managed to win 3-2.
Perhaps, last year’s final is even a bigger inspiration. The 2009 champions came from 3-0 down against Power before surrendering their title in Game Seven.
Achieving that will need Ivan Enabu to play his lungs out despite a painful groin. The injury he suffered months ago flared up in the 70-77 loss on Sunday night. He took several medical timeouts.
The guard, signed from UCU in the off-season following the departure of Abdullahi Ramadhan to Falcons, has been the most productive player offensively in the finals so far with 74 points, 24 assists and 27 steals. Without him, it could be a catastrophe. What is lacking is the support for Enabu as the other notable guard Jude Ochen has laboured through the season.
All this is not helped by the fact that Ronnie Kasewu has almost been converted from a guard to a forward. You cannot take anything away from Power as they have done their homework well. They are running as usual with the influence of Isaac Afidra and Michael Kojo keeping Warriors’ big men relatively quiet.
After the blowout wins in the first three games, two for Warriors (88-73, 80-61) and one for Power (85-55), the last two have been close. “I think we have made wrong decisions at crucial stages,” noted Warriors centre Henry Malinga. He opted to pass to Ochen to shoot a three and not turn and shoot as they lost 77-78 in Game Four on Saturday.
Power have never managed to defend any of their four league titles thus far and need no reminders on how they almost let last year’s slip out of their grasp. “I have never looked at it that way. That’s history now,” Power coach Bernice Ankunda said. “It will be such a big accomplishment but also a huge challenge to build a legacy. We need to work harder now.” Ankunda is ticking all the right boxes while Warriors’ Mandy Juruni must be wondering what has hit him after a near-perfect 17-1 in the regular season.
Juruni knows he has at least one more chance to rectify the situation.
M: DMark Power vs. Warriors (8.30pm)
(Power lead series 3-2)
Div. 2: Rez Life vs. Vegetarian (6.30pm)
(Series tied 2-2)
An MTN-Fuba League best-of-seven final series that promised so much has lived up to its billing. First, Warriors did call the shots by winning the first two games to take a 2-0 lead. The tables have turned dramatically now as DMark Power have won three on the bounce to assume a 3-2 lead and can complete the defence of their crown with victory in Game Six at YMCA court today.
It’s not a new position for Warriors who need a dramatic jail escape to force a decider scheduled for Friday. They trailed 2-1 against UCU Canons in the five-match semifinal series but managed to win 3-2.
Perhaps, last year’s final is even a bigger inspiration. The 2009 champions came from 3-0 down against Power before surrendering their title in Game Seven.
Achieving that will need Ivan Enabu to play his lungs out despite a painful groin. The injury he suffered months ago flared up in the 70-77 loss on Sunday night. He took several medical timeouts.
The guard, signed from UCU in the off-season following the departure of Abdullahi Ramadhan to Falcons, has been the most productive player offensively in the finals so far with 74 points, 24 assists and 27 steals. Without him, it could be a catastrophe. What is lacking is the support for Enabu as the other notable guard Jude Ochen has laboured through the season.
All this is not helped by the fact that Ronnie Kasewu has almost been converted from a guard to a forward. You cannot take anything away from Power as they have done their homework well. They are running as usual with the influence of Isaac Afidra and Michael Kojo keeping Warriors’ big men relatively quiet.
After the blowout wins in the first three games, two for Warriors (88-73, 80-61) and one for Power (85-55), the last two have been close. “I think we have made wrong decisions at crucial stages,” noted Warriors centre Henry Malinga. He opted to pass to Ochen to shoot a three and not turn and shoot as they lost 77-78 in Game Four on Saturday.
Power have never managed to defend any of their four league titles thus far and need no reminders on how they almost let last year’s slip out of their grasp. “I have never looked at it that way. That’s history now,” Power coach Bernice Ankunda said. “It will be such a big accomplishment but also a huge challenge to build a legacy. We need to work harder now.” Ankunda is ticking all the right boxes while Warriors’ Mandy Juruni must be wondering what has hit him after a near-perfect 17-1 in the regular season.
Juruni knows he has at least one more chance to rectify the situation.
# posted by afrbk : 13:48
