Basketball in Africa

Fittingly, the two will jostle for the regular season top spot. However, Falcons still have ‘big fish to fry’ in DMark Power and KIU Titans over the next fortnight after tonight.

Warriors, who have not lost since Power beat them 71-68 in June, were the last team to defeat Falcons four months ago. That game ended 73-53 in favour of the 2009 champions.

It’s a result the six-time champions, whose last crown came in 2007, have since discussed endlessly. “That’s the worst we have played this season,” guard Julius Lutwama commented.

His minutes along with those of Geoff Omondi and Francis Tumusiime will be trimmed or their burden lessened with the return of Tanzanian Abdullahi Ramadhan last Sunday.

The former Warrior finds Falcons at 17-2. Dulah, who came to Falcons last year, has been away in Zanzibar and Seychelles because of family issues. He reunites with former Warriors coach Gad Eteu, now an assistant at Falcons. “My promise to Falcons was to get a Cup and that’s why I came,” Dulah told Daily Monitor.

The Dulah-Eteu combo won the title at Warriors three years ago despite an uneasy relationship. “I don’t have problems with him. It was just misunderstandings. This is for basketball,” Dulah retorted. The manner in which Warriors, beaten just once in 18 games thus far, finished the first encounter, should give coach Mandy Juruni the onus to feel like favourites.