Basketball in Africa

Almost everyone always knew UCU Canons have the game to beat anyone. It’s their temperament that many doubt with Desmond Owili among the main culprits.
On Friday night, as Fuba League playoffs returned to the Lugogo MTN Arena after two years, the Kenyan centre did more than keep his head.

Owili scored 22 points and eight rebounds as UCU beat two-time defending champions DMark Power 80-64. They now lead the short best-of-three quarterfinals 1-0. Game Two is Friday.
He pounded Power on the inside and found a gaping hole. Sudi Ulanga added 18 points and Martin Okwako had 14. Power barely got a look in.

Save for when Ben Komakech, 16 points, shot a three to tie the game at 31-up early in the second quarter, this was one-way traffic for a crowd skewed greatly in support of UCU.
The ‘underdog’, fifth at the end of the regular season just behind Power, is in control. “We knew Game One was very important but so did UCU,” Power’s Isaac Afidra said. “We didn’t prepare well on Thursday.”

Afidra had 15 points and 21 rebounds. What Power coach Bernice Ankunda referred to as “our second home” turned out to be a venue his opposite Nicholas Natuhereza would love to call “a good battleground.”