28 July 2013
UGANDA : Team Uganda beat Select side
Although it was nothing more than a practice game, Uganda stars Henry Malinga (15) and Joseph Ikong (14) treated the match as a final, playing with impeccable determination. Photo by Ismail Kezaala.
By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Posted Sunday, July 28 2013 at 00:00
Posted Sunday, July 28 2013 at 00:00
In Summary
In the true sense of an All-Star game, used to promote the game through exhibition basketball, Tanzanian Abdullahi Ramadhan was the real deal.
MEN:
Uganda 69-54 Select
MEN:
Uganda 69-54 Select
WOMEN:
Uganda 52-37 Select
Uganda 52-37 Select
Desmond Owili finished it the way many have known and hope he scores all his points – an authoritative slam dunk that received the last applause from a good YMCA c
The All-Star made a welcome return and Kenya’s Owili, playing in a Select Side of foreign players from the Airtel National Basketball League, threw down four of those.
His 11 points and 10 rebounds couldn’t prevent his team from losing. Not that the final score was very important.
Team Uganda should be very pleased with the victory, a relatively comfortable 69-54 result which head coach Mandy Juruni clearly treated more seriously than an exhibition game It was a trial game for him.
There is more to come from Juruni. Stephen Omony, Ronnie Kasewu, Ben Komakech and Norman Blick missed the game, the latter two through injury.
Omony had other obligations and Kasewu was ‘dropped’ as Juruni attempted “to try out other options”. Among those was Cyrus Kiviri.
This was a good contest in the end that enabled the national team, forever ill-prepared in the past, start ‘early preparations for the Fiba Africa Zone V Nations Championship to be held here next year.
In the true sense of an All-Star game, used to promote the game through exhibition basketball, Tanzanian Abdullahi Ramadhan was the real deal.
Loved and loathed in equal nature by local since moving to Riham Warriors four years ago, Dulah, now with Galaxy Falcons, made a real attempt to make this fun. If it wasn’t the game, it was his reactions to good, and bad.
Superb Jimmy Enabu
No look passes were plenty. So were the turnovers. No one really cared. The Uhhhs…Ahhhs….and Ohhhs kept coming.
One player who received the wows he deserved was City Oilers’ Jimmy Enabu.No look passes were plenty. So were the turnovers. No one really cared. The Uhhhs…Ahhhs….and Ohhhs kept coming.
The former DMark Power guard showed glimpses of hours of shooting practice, going 4 for 6 from downtown to finish with a team-high 16 points. This is probably his best shooting night, ever!
Joseph Ikong had 11 and nine rebounds as he continues his evolution from being more than just a scorer.There is more to come from Juruni. Stephen Omony, Ronnie Kasewu, Ben Komakech and Norman Blick missed the game, the latter two through injury.
Omony had other obligations and Kasewu was ‘dropped’ as Juruni attempted “to try out other options”. Among those was Cyrus Kiviri.
# posted by afrbk : 17:02
