Basketball in Africa

He has the aura of a loved baby with seemingly flawless character but when Sudi Ulanga woke on the 11th of October with such a post on his wall, be sure, the underdog clout is finally up his throat. One would say UCU canons were unlucky not to have made it to the play-off finals last season and the season before but to win the lottery you have to buy a ticket, this time around, the canons have been loaded.
Of the 5 teams with a chance to win the championship, UCU canons have by many been regarded outsiders, however if you have watched UCU in the post season for the last 2 seasons, you will wonder what they add to that water of theirs. Their roster might have greatly changed, Jeff Omondi’s absence might be felt but if Okot Sunday steps up and Inocent Oduor unveils his true self, a “surprise” is on the table. Former MVP Okello Boniface might hurt D mark Power, Desmond Owili has grown from being just a “dunker”, senior Okwako Martin might not be the Okwako of 2009, but in class you can trust.

Will Brian Kamate sign his name in the league? I think so. This lanky Kenyan who did away with his Afro, a 2011 champion with cooperative bank in the Kenyan league, has shown the diamond in him. The only player to have suffocated Salim Ali in that 10+ points dubbing of KIU titans in the second round, he not only wipes the boards but dials from down town and his ball IQ is certainly above average, used well, he might just become the Moses of this university side that the championship has eluded despite having top notch players.
They will certainly miss Perimeter assassin Robert Ogweno courtesy of a FIBA rule FUBA invoked that doesn’t allow players who have not appeared on the team sheet for atleast 5 times in the regular season to feature in the post season. One thing for sure is 4th quarter basketball will surely determine who progresses to the semis. In Africa they say never laugh at anyone as long as they are still alive! You might undermine them, but under lugogo they might have planted a mine that will switch off Power.