10 November 2012
UGANDA : Falcons re-trace lost path
KIU hard man Moses Olobo (R) stretches to block Falcons’ Stephen Omony in the regular season. PHOTO BY ismail kezaala.
By ISMAIL DHAKABA KIGONGO
TODAY AT lugogo
Falcons vs. KIU (7.30pm)
W: KCCA vs. Stormers (6pm)
SUNDAY AT LUGOGO
Div. 2: City Oilers vs. B. Court (4.30pm)
Rhino vs. UCU JV (3pm)
Div. 3: UMU vs. B. Jackets (1.30pm)
Ssaku vs. Silver Force (12pm)
Falcons vs. KIU (7.30pm)
W: KCCA vs. Stormers (6pm)
SUNDAY AT LUGOGO
Div. 2: City Oilers vs. B. Court (4.30pm)
Rhino vs. UCU JV (3pm)
Div. 3: UMU vs. B. Jackets (1.30pm)
Ssaku vs. Silver Force (12pm)
Kampala
Warriors-UCU Canons is perhaps getting most of the attention in a sea of multiple Fuba playoff semifinals even if it’s become repetitive.
The two started their third best-of-five series in three years yesterday. As competitive as that series is expected to be, their likely opposition in the finals could serve thrillers too.
That opposition is the shape of either Falcons or KIU Titans. These two continue their own journeys to the finals with Game One of the semis at the Lugogo MTN Arena today. Are the two bothered by the other semi getting most of the attention? “No, this is just how we like it,” Falcons’ assistant coach Gad Eteu responded.
Nimrod Kaboha, the KIU coach, noted: “You cannot look at what other teams do or don’t do. We are working just as hard.”
Both sides missed out on the playoffs last year. Having won more titles than anyone else with the last of their six having come in 2007, Falcons will bear the weight of expectation.
They also last beat KIU in the first round of the 2010 season. The losing streak has grown to five but both teams claim ignorance of this stat.
Centre Philip Ameny and legend Stephen Omony, switching between the two forward positions, ran the show as Falcons finished second in the regular season.
Ameny, scorer of 20 points and 13 rebounds in the 66-46 win over Ndejje on Sunday for a 2-0 quarterfinal series whitewash, is perhaps their most important player now.
His understudies of Brian Ssentogo and Edwin Kateregga have been average. The latter is lately starting at power forward to shield skipper Peter Elungat’s dip in form. “A palm has five fingers and I am only one of those,” Ameny said. Former Falcons’ Richard Osano has led KIU brilliantly.
They finished third – a position Kaboha has craved in recent interviews. Osano has found great support in guard Salim Ali and the consistency of Moses Olobo. If KIU don’t have big worries, Falcons have one in Abdullahi Ramadhan whose return last month has not added much save for the turnover column in the stats column.
Head coach Tony Oluka was seen giving Dulah a tongue lashing last Sunday. “We will try to keep him off the ball to make him effective running off screens,” Eteu confirmed.
Iikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com
# posted by afrbk : 16:33
