12 November 2012
UGANDA : Falcons, KCCA Leopards labour to semifinal wins
Steven Mwesige of Falcons (with ball) goes for the basket against KIU Titans at Lugogo on Saturday. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
By ISMAIL D. KIGONGO
There was little to celebrate for Falcons and KCCA Leopards as they failed to impress at the start of their respective Fuba League playoff semifinals on Saturday.
More importantly, the two sides, both former champions, won their series openers to take 1-0 leads against plucky sides KIU Titans and Magic Stormers respectively.
More importantly, the two sides, both former champions, won their series openers to take 1-0 leads against plucky sides KIU Titans and Magic Stormers respectively.
Falcons laboured to a 50-42 victory over KIU, a team that finished third in the regular season standings, just behind them. That was the six-time champions’ first win over KIU since the first round of 2010. Richard Osano, a former Falcon, was the only offensive threat for KIU.
The forward’s 12 points and five rebounds proved to be a game-high total. Everyone seemed bored. Second seeded Falcons had Stephen Omony and Philip Ameny finish with identical figures of eight points and nine rebounds.
The biggest positive for Falcons was sweeping the boards 40-30. “We won but played badly. But we shall improve,” Falcons guard Geoff Omondi, four points and two assists on the night, said.
Salim Ali threat
Omondi should, however, be pleased with the way he and the entire back court negated the threat of Salim Ali, in restricting his shot and cutting out the pass.
Omondi should, however, be pleased with the way he and the entire back court negated the threat of Salim Ali, in restricting his shot and cutting out the pass.
Ali only had three points and two assists in over 30 minutes on the floor as both sides collapsed on the offensive end. The turnover column piled up with 28 apiece.
The memories were inexistent and if there were any, the final buzzer must have erased them and taken many fans out of the pain of boredom.
Game Two is scheduled for tomorrow at Makerere main ground, Falcons’ training ground, and both teams have a lot to work on to be viewed as the capable title contenders they have been all season.
Earlier, women’s championship contenders KCCA, whose last title came in 2009, were even luckier to beat Stormers 43-40 as former MVP Flavia Oketcho’s 17 points proved decisive.
# posted by afrbk : 15:30
