Basketball in Africa

UCU effectively became better closers on their fifth appearance in the playoffs. “They wanted me out of the game but God helped me stay calm,” Owili, who finished with four fouls, said. The Kenyan scored 22 points in the 80-64 Game One victory for the fifth seed to overcome not only the fourth seed but also a five-time champion.

Reserve point guard Emmanuel Enabu almost denied them with 24 points. He is the only Power player who didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side.

No wonder he cried most in a locker-room that should have been labeled graveyard instead, just adjacent to one that had loud celebrations.

“All season, the hunger hasn’t been there,” two-time MVP Ben Komakech, 12 points in the decider to finish on a paltry 30 for the series, lamented. His coach Bernice Ankunda, whose mother was in the stands, had already raised concerns about Komakech’s form after Game Two which Power won 71-62.

This time, he blamed the group especially down the stretch when UCU ‘big men’ created gaping holes in the key. “Our decision making and discipline on defence was lacking,” Ankunda noted. Sudi Ulanga, 17 points, five of them in the final four minutes when he returned, and reserve Brian Namake, 14 points, made it four Canons in double figures.

The latter has perhaps impressed as much as Ulanga, Owili and Okwako. Their coach Nicholas Natuhereza wants the celebration to stop immediately. “Let’s not get carried away. I wish the excitement stops now because we have tough series coming up,” Natuhereza said.
No one is hearing him now till Friday.