18 December 2011
UGANDA : Irresistible Afidra delivers fifth heaven for Power
An effervescent MTN-Fuba League best-of-seven series final fittingly came down to the final shot before DMark Power edged Warriors 99-97 to defend their title at YMCA court on Friday night.
The phenomenal crowd watched the final seconds on their feet. They surely had to.
This hair-raising clash was a great advert for Ugandan basketball and the debate about whether a limping Ivan Enabu remains the best player to have never won a championship continues in earnest.
Point guard Ben Komakech got the winning baskets from the foul line with three seconds to play to end a nerve-wrecking series, which Power clinched 4-3 to make it three titles in four years.
Unlike his previous MVP crowns (2008 and 2010), the latest conquest was delivered by Isaac Afidra. The forward, now an MVP contender along with Komakech, scored a game-high 29 points and 15 rebounds.
None came bigger than a long three-pointer, which gave Power the lead (97-96) with nine seconds to play in a game Warriors must feel they threw away.
The 2009 champions, who once held a 2-0 lead in this series, losing three in succession before forcing a decider, had a 12-point advantage (89-77) with 5.12 to play.
Even as Power fought with their customary full court press, it was still Warriors’ championship to lose at 95-93. Ronnie Kasewu could have grown the margin to four, only to miss two from the charity line in a game he surely lost for a side he helped win their only title.
Komakech, scorer of 27 points and 13 rebounds, pulled it within one and Kasewu again only made one of two. “He (Komakech) is a good player and was consistent,” a disappointed Kasewu, struggling to speak, said.
It was now Warriors 96-94. Enter Michael Kariuki. Just like the semifinals against UCU Canons, the centre, formerly with Power, celebrated when fouled only to miss both. The reprieve never came this time.
That Afidra moment followed. He too could have been a villain as he failed to convert two on the line thereafter.
Warriors’ Steven Okias (28) must have thought overtime was here when he made one of his two to tie the thriller at 97-up with four seconds to play.
There was still time for Afidra to foul out and Kasewu to needlessly impede Komakech literally ensuring that Power completed a maiden defence and five titles in total, just one behind record champions Falcons.
Warriors’ coach Mandy Juruni called a time-out. Upon emerging, the inbound went to Eric Malinga, whose elder brother Henry (16) had been ejected.
He went in but couldn’t add to his 12 points, shooting an air ball under pressure. “I am happy to be part of this team. This team is a unit and (Bernice Ankunda) is the best coach I have worked under,” Afidra said.
The memory of losing the Blick brothers – Norman and Donald – to Miracle Eagles and Robert Mubiru (family) this season is irrelevant. Power fans had filled the court whereas Warriors sat quietly on their bench, mourning in unison holding back tears. These were 40 long minutes and both sides could have easily notched three figures.
The phenomenal crowd watched the final seconds on their feet. They surely had to.
This hair-raising clash was a great advert for Ugandan basketball and the debate about whether a limping Ivan Enabu remains the best player to have never won a championship continues in earnest.
Point guard Ben Komakech got the winning baskets from the foul line with three seconds to play to end a nerve-wrecking series, which Power clinched 4-3 to make it three titles in four years.
Unlike his previous MVP crowns (2008 and 2010), the latest conquest was delivered by Isaac Afidra. The forward, now an MVP contender along with Komakech, scored a game-high 29 points and 15 rebounds.
None came bigger than a long three-pointer, which gave Power the lead (97-96) with nine seconds to play in a game Warriors must feel they threw away.
The 2009 champions, who once held a 2-0 lead in this series, losing three in succession before forcing a decider, had a 12-point advantage (89-77) with 5.12 to play.
Even as Power fought with their customary full court press, it was still Warriors’ championship to lose at 95-93. Ronnie Kasewu could have grown the margin to four, only to miss two from the charity line in a game he surely lost for a side he helped win their only title.
Komakech, scorer of 27 points and 13 rebounds, pulled it within one and Kasewu again only made one of two. “He (Komakech) is a good player and was consistent,” a disappointed Kasewu, struggling to speak, said.
It was now Warriors 96-94. Enter Michael Kariuki. Just like the semifinals against UCU Canons, the centre, formerly with Power, celebrated when fouled only to miss both. The reprieve never came this time.
That Afidra moment followed. He too could have been a villain as he failed to convert two on the line thereafter.
Warriors’ Steven Okias (28) must have thought overtime was here when he made one of his two to tie the thriller at 97-up with four seconds to play.
There was still time for Afidra to foul out and Kasewu to needlessly impede Komakech literally ensuring that Power completed a maiden defence and five titles in total, just one behind record champions Falcons.
Warriors’ coach Mandy Juruni called a time-out. Upon emerging, the inbound went to Eric Malinga, whose elder brother Henry (16) had been ejected.
He went in but couldn’t add to his 12 points, shooting an air ball under pressure. “I am happy to be part of this team. This team is a unit and (Bernice Ankunda) is the best coach I have worked under,” Afidra said.
The memory of losing the Blick brothers – Norman and Donald – to Miracle Eagles and Robert Mubiru (family) this season is irrelevant. Power fans had filled the court whereas Warriors sat quietly on their bench, mourning in unison holding back tears. These were 40 long minutes and both sides could have easily notched three figures.
# posted by afrbk : 15:19
