Basketball in Africa

With the first round of the Airtel National Basketball league coming to an end this weekend, there couldn't be a better way to draw the curtains than a fixture against the two most successful basketball teams in the country; Blue Cube Falcons and Dmark Power. The pair have won the title six and four times respectively and the contest will go a long way to determine whether Falcons, who missed last season's playoffs, are title contenders.
In many ways, this is Falcons' shot at redemption after recent losses to Warriors and KIU Titans. So, a go at Power will certainly make up for those two defeats. Statistically Falcons don't look bad; eight wins and two loses is a decent record and coach Tony Oluka is content.
"I'm okay with how we have played so far and the players are starting to get the formations that I want to use," he says.
Falcons' training sessions for the past two weeks at Makerere Main Ground have been about how to stop Power's running game. Oluka believes playing a 1-3-1 defense is the best way to stop Power because with such a strategy there will be someone playing defence on whoever is bringing down the ball there by killing Power's transition.
Already their four-game winning streak shows they are mastering the tactic. They had an easy time seeing off Nkumba Marines last Sunday 80-44. Julius Lutwama will be the one poised to play the role of stopping the ball and needs to bring his 'A' game for this one.
Falcons also stand another advantage because Power is weary after struggling to register their ninth win against Victoria University Heaters, who they beat 69-55 on Wednesday evening. But Power is not a team one can undermine because such epic like tonight's are fixtures they live for.
They love proving to their fans that they are two time defending champions. Their strategy is still the same; run at your opponent relentlessly and with the bragging rights of finishing top of the table if they win the fixture, in a way you can expect them to give it their all.