One of the players, Sarah Ogueke who is appearing in the national team for the second time, expressed optimism that the team would emerge as the tournament's champions.
"My assessment of the team is that we have excellent leadership with the way we see our coaches and that is where a team's good performance starts from.
"Also, they (the coaches) have been emphasising teamwork. So, as long as we go into the competition with the same type of mindset, there is nothing that will stop us.
"Although in competitions like these, other teams will stand in our way to the trophy. But we promise to deal with them as they come.
"So, Nigerians should expect nothing from us apart from the gold medal," Ogueke said.
The Nigerian team is drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Angola, Mali, Cameroon, Kenya and Cape Verde.
"Nevertheless, we will respect those with good records. But we will not rate them too high above us. That will make us appear as being inferior," he said.30 September 2013
KENYA : KBF playoff teams to be decided next weekend
The teams to participate in the 2013 Kenya Basketball Federation league playoffs will be known next weekend when the last round of matches will take place at Upperhill School and Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
Most of the teams have only a single match remaining and already booked their playoffs spot. However, official confirmation will be done after all matches have been played.
There will be no league matches on the weekend of October 12-13 as clubs are expected to grace the annual Tony Munyama Memorial Cup tournament to be staged at the Railways Club.
The playoffs are set to coincide with the FIBA organized Champions Cup for Women in Morocco to be held November.
Eagle Wings and United States International University- Africa, USIU-A, will be representing the country. USIU-A men side reaped big from the weekend action winning two of their matches to recover from an earlier false start.
The students had lost key matches in first leg and forfeited one which had threatened their chances of a powerful finish. But with the weekend wins, they now stand a chance of finishing in a good position.
After their 83-80 win over Lions on Saturday, the David Maina side displayed similar effort to down Strathmore University 66-63 on Sunday.
USIU-A led 33-20 at halftime and credit went to Strathmore who struggled to cut the deficit and even took a one point lead temporarily midway the fourth quarter.
Both teams suffered in the homestretch after Christian Mulumba for USIU and Geoffrey Oteki for Strathmore were fouled out on five fouls each.
The lead changed hands time to time in the fourth quarter but USIU had a superior final kick.
Maxiumum points for Co-op, Ulinzi
Kevin Macharia top scored for USIU with 18 points as Victor Bosire added 17. Strathmore's top scorer was Samuel Odera with 22 points.
Ulinzi Warriors, Saturday’s 61-60 winners over Strathmore, earned a 20-0 walkover after Mennonite failed to show up.
Defending champions Co-operative Bank beat Nairobi Aviation College by 20 points in their 58-38 win. James Mwangi top scored for the bankers with 12 points while Job Byron had 13 for Aviation.
The first two quarters exchanged loyalty with Co-op Bank winning the first 15-4 and Aviation the second 16-13. With an eight point advantage, the bankers came out strongly in the second half winning the third and fourth quarters 11-9 and 19-9 respectively.
USIU-A scored 70-30 against Western Delight in the only women premier match played Sunday. Cynthia Irankunda was USIUs top scorer with 13 while Scarlet Uyamunda had 10 points for Delight. All quarters went USIUs way 15-9, 10-2, 15-8 and 30-11 in that order.
Collated Results: USIU Flames 70 Western Delight 30, Little Prince 53 Umoja 69, World Hope 41 Equity Bank 77, Ulinzi 20 Mennonite 0 (w/o), Co-op Bank 58 Nairobi Aviation College 38, USIU Tigers 66 Strathmore University 63.
Most of the teams have only a single match remaining and already booked their playoffs spot. However, official confirmation will be done after all matches have been played.
There will be no league matches on the weekend of October 12-13 as clubs are expected to grace the annual Tony Munyama Memorial Cup tournament to be staged at the Railways Club.
The playoffs are set to coincide with the FIBA organized Champions Cup for Women in Morocco to be held November.
Eagle Wings and United States International University- Africa, USIU-A, will be representing the country. USIU-A men side reaped big from the weekend action winning two of their matches to recover from an earlier false start.
The students had lost key matches in first leg and forfeited one which had threatened their chances of a powerful finish. But with the weekend wins, they now stand a chance of finishing in a good position.
After their 83-80 win over Lions on Saturday, the David Maina side displayed similar effort to down Strathmore University 66-63 on Sunday.
USIU-A led 33-20 at halftime and credit went to Strathmore who struggled to cut the deficit and even took a one point lead temporarily midway the fourth quarter.
Both teams suffered in the homestretch after Christian Mulumba for USIU and Geoffrey Oteki for Strathmore were fouled out on five fouls each.
The lead changed hands time to time in the fourth quarter but USIU had a superior final kick.
Maxiumum points for Co-op, Ulinzi
Kevin Macharia top scored for USIU with 18 points as Victor Bosire added 17. Strathmore's top scorer was Samuel Odera with 22 points.
Ulinzi Warriors, Saturday’s 61-60 winners over Strathmore, earned a 20-0 walkover after Mennonite failed to show up.
Defending champions Co-operative Bank beat Nairobi Aviation College by 20 points in their 58-38 win. James Mwangi top scored for the bankers with 12 points while Job Byron had 13 for Aviation.
The first two quarters exchanged loyalty with Co-op Bank winning the first 15-4 and Aviation the second 16-13. With an eight point advantage, the bankers came out strongly in the second half winning the third and fourth quarters 11-9 and 19-9 respectively.
USIU-A scored 70-30 against Western Delight in the only women premier match played Sunday. Cynthia Irankunda was USIUs top scorer with 13 while Scarlet Uyamunda had 10 points for Delight. All quarters went USIUs way 15-9, 10-2, 15-8 and 30-11 in that order.
Collated Results: USIU Flames 70 Western Delight 30, Little Prince 53 Umoja 69, World Hope 41 Equity Bank 77, Ulinzi 20 Mennonite 0 (w/o), Co-op Bank 58 Nairobi Aviation College 38, USIU Tigers 66 Strathmore University 63.
KENYA : Strathmore, Lions suffer costly League defeats
Strathmore Leos in a past league match.(Photo:SNA File)
Strathmore University and Lions, two of the top contenders for this year’s men’s title, suffered narrow but costly defeats in their respective national classic league matches played Saturday.
The loss could have a huge impact on how the two teams finish heading to the playoffs even though their places are already guaranteed.
The students lost to Ulinzi Warriors 61-60 while Lions was beaten 83-80 by United States International University- Africa, USIU-A.
Strathmore and Ulinzi played out a highly tensed but competitive match as both teams were not keen to falter at this point. It is the students who had much to regret about after squandering a 35-32 halftime lead to end up losing by half basket. Ulinzi won the first quarter 21-9 with Strathmore taking the second 26-11.
By the close of the third quarter, the match had become even tight with only one point separating both sides. Ulinzi claimed the quarter 19-17 with Strathmore still leading 52-51. The soldiers won fourth quarter 10-8 for the narrow win.
Tiberius Menya scored 20 points for Ulinzi with William Ochieng adding 16. Samuel Mogoko top scored for Strathmore with 13 points. Ancetas Wafula’s game high 39 points failed to inspire Lions to victory as they lost to a rejuvenated USIU-A.
It was a remarkable comeback for Lions who trailed the students by twelve points at the breather to only lose by three points. USIU had won the first two quarters 17-14 and 25-16 to set pace for the win.
The third quarter tied at 21-21 as USIU held a firm grip on their lead. A 29-20 win in the last quarter for Lions was not enough to tilt the win their way. Victor Bosire and Kevin Macharia scored 14 points each for USIU.
Co-op stop Storms
Women premier leaders Co-operative Bank managed a 59-55 win over Sprite Storms after taking a 25-22 halftime lead.
Storms missed the services of their key scorer Susan Akinyi while Co-op Bank played without Belinda Oluoch.
Both players are with the national team in Mozambique for the Afrobasket Championship. It was an evenly balanced match with each team winning two quarters.
The bankers won the first and third 12-6 and 25-21 respectively with Storms taking home the second and fourth 16-13 and 12-9 in that order.
Mercy Etyang scored 12 points for the bankers while Linnet Mukiri had 14 for Storms. Betty Kananu scored 25 points to lead Kenyatta University Oryx to a 60-47 win over Western Delight. Cathy Wabala replied for Delight scoring 11 points.
Oryx led 28-15 at the breather after 10-7 and 18-8 wins in the opening quarters. Delight fought back winning the third quarter 17-13 before Oryx rounded up the win with a 19-15 score in the fourth. Equity Bank had a roll in division one edging past the century mark in their 114-48 win over Parklands Baptist while World Hope condemned Zetech College to a 74-70 loss.
Collated Results: KU Oryx 60 Western Delight 47, USIU Tigers 83 Lions 80, Strathmore University 60 Ulinzi 61, Co-op Bank 59 Sprite Storms 55, Zetech College 70 World Hope 74, Equity Bank 114 Parklands Baptist 48.
The loss could have a huge impact on how the two teams finish heading to the playoffs even though their places are already guaranteed.
The students lost to Ulinzi Warriors 61-60 while Lions was beaten 83-80 by United States International University- Africa, USIU-A.
Strathmore and Ulinzi played out a highly tensed but competitive match as both teams were not keen to falter at this point. It is the students who had much to regret about after squandering a 35-32 halftime lead to end up losing by half basket. Ulinzi won the first quarter 21-9 with Strathmore taking the second 26-11.
By the close of the third quarter, the match had become even tight with only one point separating both sides. Ulinzi claimed the quarter 19-17 with Strathmore still leading 52-51. The soldiers won fourth quarter 10-8 for the narrow win.
Tiberius Menya scored 20 points for Ulinzi with William Ochieng adding 16. Samuel Mogoko top scored for Strathmore with 13 points. Ancetas Wafula’s game high 39 points failed to inspire Lions to victory as they lost to a rejuvenated USIU-A.
It was a remarkable comeback for Lions who trailed the students by twelve points at the breather to only lose by three points. USIU had won the first two quarters 17-14 and 25-16 to set pace for the win.
The third quarter tied at 21-21 as USIU held a firm grip on their lead. A 29-20 win in the last quarter for Lions was not enough to tilt the win their way. Victor Bosire and Kevin Macharia scored 14 points each for USIU.
Co-op stop Storms
Women premier leaders Co-operative Bank managed a 59-55 win over Sprite Storms after taking a 25-22 halftime lead.
Storms missed the services of their key scorer Susan Akinyi while Co-op Bank played without Belinda Oluoch.
Both players are with the national team in Mozambique for the Afrobasket Championship. It was an evenly balanced match with each team winning two quarters.
The bankers won the first and third 12-6 and 25-21 respectively with Storms taking home the second and fourth 16-13 and 12-9 in that order.
Mercy Etyang scored 12 points for the bankers while Linnet Mukiri had 14 for Storms. Betty Kananu scored 25 points to lead Kenyatta University Oryx to a 60-47 win over Western Delight. Cathy Wabala replied for Delight scoring 11 points.
Oryx led 28-15 at the breather after 10-7 and 18-8 wins in the opening quarters. Delight fought back winning the third quarter 17-13 before Oryx rounded up the win with a 19-15 score in the fourth. Equity Bank had a roll in division one edging past the century mark in their 114-48 win over Parklands Baptist while World Hope condemned Zetech College to a 74-70 loss.
Collated Results: KU Oryx 60 Western Delight 47, USIU Tigers 83 Lions 80, Strathmore University 60 Ulinzi 61, Co-op Bank 59 Sprite Storms 55, Zetech College 70 World Hope 74, Equity Bank 114 Parklands Baptist 48.
RWANDA : Kigali BC Takes On CSK in Friday Basketball Clash
Former league champions Kigali Basketball Club believe they can register a win against title contenders CSK in today's clash of the national basketball league at Amahoro stadium.
With three consecutive wins since the beginning of the second round just two weeks ago, Kigali BC has high hopes of winning the league title but knows that every game counts right now.
Head coach Cyrille Karima revealed that, "We want to play and win one game at a time because we know that this round is very important in deciding which team comes top at the end of the round."
Karima will be relying on the services of comeback hero and shooting guard Mike Bazangu who has shown his scoring prowess in the past three games averaging 30 points per game.
CSK, on the other hand, also wants to stay in the title race and will be looking to national team veteran guard Aboubakar Barame for inspiration.
According to Karima, his outfit wants to go into Sunday's encounter against the reigning league champions Espoir with confidence and he has indicated that this is a must-win game.
"If we want to come out on top of the table standings at the end of the second round then we have to defeat Espoir since we lost to them in the first round," confessed Karima.
Espoir's captain who is also the captain of the Rwanda national team, Aristide Mugabe believes that with the training that his team has had, his teammates can register a crucial win.
Mugabe said, "We do not take any game for granted. We respect our opponents but then again, we want to win so we shall come out strong."
Espoir has been resting for two weeks since they opened the second round with an impressive win against CSK 89-48 with Mugabe dropping a game high 40 points.
With three consecutive wins since the beginning of the second round just two weeks ago, Kigali BC has high hopes of winning the league title but knows that every game counts right now.
Head coach Cyrille Karima revealed that, "We want to play and win one game at a time because we know that this round is very important in deciding which team comes top at the end of the round."
Karima will be relying on the services of comeback hero and shooting guard Mike Bazangu who has shown his scoring prowess in the past three games averaging 30 points per game.
CSK, on the other hand, also wants to stay in the title race and will be looking to national team veteran guard Aboubakar Barame for inspiration.
According to Karima, his outfit wants to go into Sunday's encounter against the reigning league champions Espoir with confidence and he has indicated that this is a must-win game.
"If we want to come out on top of the table standings at the end of the second round then we have to defeat Espoir since we lost to them in the first round," confessed Karima.
Espoir's captain who is also the captain of the Rwanda national team, Aristide Mugabe believes that with the training that his team has had, his teammates can register a crucial win.
Mugabe said, "We do not take any game for granted. We respect our opponents but then again, we want to win so we shall come out strong."
Espoir has been resting for two weeks since they opened the second round with an impressive win against CSK 89-48 with Mugabe dropping a game high 40 points.
28 September 2013
UGANDA : KIU’s big fourth quarter overwhelms City Oilers
Photo Credits: Basketball256 KIU Titans 72-65 City Oilers
KIU Titans exploded for 29 fourth quarter points to beat City Oilers 72-65 Friday night at MTN Arena. You wouldn’t have been silly to think Chris Omanye’s fouling out with 2:08 in the fourth quarter was a blessing in disguise for KIU Titans. With KIU Titans trailing 64-63 and just over two minutes to play, KIU’s guard, Chris Omanye picked up his fifth foul and Francis Kasekende came on for him.
On his first possession, Kasekende was sent to line and hit both throws to take KIU up 65-64. On City Oilers in-bounding, they were forced to cough up the ball and Henry Mwinuka missed a game stretching lay-up with 52 seconds. City Oilers called for a time out followed by Jimmy Enabu turning over the ball that ended up with Kasekende for a bunny and all was nothing but done. “We have learnt to play under pressure” a delighted Kasekende who scored team high 16 points told Kawowo Sports.
Oilers’ center, Kami Kabangu scored 15 points and picked 7 rebounds but struggled to get off his mid-range jumper as he was pushed further from his range by the Titans' solid defense. “We had to deny him his comfort zone and made it difficult for him to score” Nimrod Kaboha on his team’s defensive strategy for Kami Kabangu.
Oilers’ forward, Arou Ramadhan scored game high 17 points and picked 8 rebounds. Yusuf Mohamed added 14 points. Enabu had a poor night managing just 4 points. “I think we were inconsistent throughout the game.” “The guys were defensively and offensively unproductive today” City Oilers coach, Mandy Juruni said.
Chris Omanye and Henry Mwinuka contributed 14 points each for Titans (12-6). Bol Akol added10 points and Edwin Katerega who closed the scoring for the night with a hammer down had 7 points. “This is reaping what we sow. We have been practicing these situations so it is liked applying what we do in practice.” KIU’s coach Nimrod Kaboha said.
Meanwhile Charging Rhinos saw off Nkumba Marines 65-55 to put one foot into the play offs. Rashid male scored game high 20 points off the bench to lead Rhinos. Abel omoding scored 15 points including a 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter that stretched Rhinos’ lead. Derrick Katumba picked game high 13 rebounds. Brian Sivachi led Nkumba with 12 points and shaban ramadhan added 9 points. Wilson otweyo scored 8 points and picked 10 rebounds.
KENYA : Strathmore Blades face USIU Tigers in fierce derby
Updated on 27/09/13 | By NOEL ROBERT
There was a multitude of scenarios that were possible in Game 1 of last season’s first round playoffs between Strathmore Blades and USIU Tigers, an evening that represented a precious opportunity for the Blades to transform their gritty, gutty season into a truly special, memorable one for their fans who had been upset every time the two bitter rivals met.
That ruse was necessary, apparently, because Blades had exhibited an annoying tendency of failing to grasp the urgency of closing out on their rivals for two seasons now. That was one option.
Another was, Tigers would restore their pride and continue with their dominance over Blades for the second season in a row and particularly in the playoffs. Arou Ramadhan Chan and Evans Leting were determined to condemn Strathmore to a loss that was painful and disappointing. Tigers did it in that painful style. On that night, when Blades were trailing by a basket and had possession with less than twenty seconds to wind up the game, David Ogolla was forced to a turnover by Evans Leting who drove straight to the basket to separate the contested tie by four points.
On that night, guard Nick Konya became a revelation while Neville Odhiambo’s dunk on Clifford Alella is still remembered to date.
Here's the one irrefutable thing about the then Tigers: They were a marvelous, athletic basketball machine when they were in front, running, dunking and scoring. And here's one irrefutable thing about the then Blades: They didn’t have enough weapons to erase double-digit deficits late in ballgames. That was then and any Blades fan who was in the court left upset hoping their team would stage a comeback in game two that would never be…..that was then.
These two sides meet this weekend. Blades are in a ten-game winning streak while Tigers have had a series of mixed fortunes. But this is a derby. When these two sides are mentioned in a possible matchup, every fan stops and listens.
This game brings the sort of matchups that the game of basketball wants in terms of rivalry, scores to settle, talents, hard work, fans screaming their hearts outs….name it. Blades catch a break in that Tigers don’t have a true centre to give them the match-up problems like Arou used to a season ago.
Frontcourt players like Joseph Owino and Pascal Nabwana are therefore off the hook. Against Victor Bosire, pressure will be on David Ogolla to corner him and stop his unexpected shots. Ogolla will have enough supports from his team if their previous games are to go by, so he doesn’t need to play above his head.
Tigers’ basic formula boils down to technically-sound team offensively from their trio of Bosire, Chris Mulumba and veteran Yonny Wanamabiro and one auxiliary weapon pitching in Kelvin Kigotho to put them over the top. Blades must protect the ball and not turn this into an ugly half court dogfight. The prospect of any team losing this game isn’t likely to sit well with them so the atmosphere at the gymnasium is all going to be thick both for the fans and the players on Sunday from 4pm.
That ruse was necessary, apparently, because Blades had exhibited an annoying tendency of failing to grasp the urgency of closing out on their rivals for two seasons now. That was one option.
Another was, Tigers would restore their pride and continue with their dominance over Blades for the second season in a row and particularly in the playoffs. Arou Ramadhan Chan and Evans Leting were determined to condemn Strathmore to a loss that was painful and disappointing. Tigers did it in that painful style. On that night, when Blades were trailing by a basket and had possession with less than twenty seconds to wind up the game, David Ogolla was forced to a turnover by Evans Leting who drove straight to the basket to separate the contested tie by four points.
On that night, guard Nick Konya became a revelation while Neville Odhiambo’s dunk on Clifford Alella is still remembered to date.
Here's the one irrefutable thing about the then Tigers: They were a marvelous, athletic basketball machine when they were in front, running, dunking and scoring. And here's one irrefutable thing about the then Blades: They didn’t have enough weapons to erase double-digit deficits late in ballgames. That was then and any Blades fan who was in the court left upset hoping their team would stage a comeback in game two that would never be…..that was then.
These two sides meet this weekend. Blades are in a ten-game winning streak while Tigers have had a series of mixed fortunes. But this is a derby. When these two sides are mentioned in a possible matchup, every fan stops and listens.
This game brings the sort of matchups that the game of basketball wants in terms of rivalry, scores to settle, talents, hard work, fans screaming their hearts outs….name it. Blades catch a break in that Tigers don’t have a true centre to give them the match-up problems like Arou used to a season ago.
Frontcourt players like Joseph Owino and Pascal Nabwana are therefore off the hook. Against Victor Bosire, pressure will be on David Ogolla to corner him and stop his unexpected shots. Ogolla will have enough supports from his team if their previous games are to go by, so he doesn’t need to play above his head.
Tigers’ basic formula boils down to technically-sound team offensively from their trio of Bosire, Chris Mulumba and veteran Yonny Wanamabiro and one auxiliary weapon pitching in Kelvin Kigotho to put them over the top. Blades must protect the ball and not turn this into an ugly half court dogfight. The prospect of any team losing this game isn’t likely to sit well with them so the atmosphere at the gymnasium is all going to be thick both for the fans and the players on Sunday from 4pm.
27 September 2013
NAMIBIA : NBF Accused of Neglecting Regions
The Namibia Basketball Federation (NBF) has once again come under fire, this time it is accused of turning a blind eye on its regional coordinators, who are cash- strapped and unable to adequately carry out development programmes.
Speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, a group of aggrieved members of the NBF from various regions, most of whom work on a voluntary basis, expressed dismay at the way the NBF is going about its business and claimed that the lack of financial and administrative support from the NBF head office here in Windhoek is to be blamed for the slow pace of development of basketball in the country. One of the members said they sometimes have to buy equipment such as balls from their own pockets and even cement to repair some basketball courts. "Most of our colleagues in other regions are well aware of the ongoing administrative shenanigans that have bedeviled domestic basketball for quite a while now, but they are reluctant to say it out loud because they are scared of being victimized. Most of the regional members have even quit doing their jobs due to the daily struggles they endure," said one irate member.
However, NBF Secretary-General Nande Kayala rubbished the allegations and shot back saying those members in the regions have failed the NBF and the entire basketball fraternity. Kayala further made it clear the regional structures of the NBF include a president, vice president, development officer, treasurer and a secretary general in each region and said the purpose of the structures is to allow regional members to run their own finances and administration. "Since the NBF does not have enough funds to feed all the regions, we designed these structures to allow the regions' presidents and subordinates to source their own funds within the communities where they operate and to put those funds back into the community by carrying out development programmes for the youth. The NBF itself is already under-funded, so how does one expect the NBF to feed more then seven regions with the little funds it gets from government," said Kayala. A clearly discomfited Kayala also took a swipe at the aggrieved members, saying they should first read the NBF constitution and understand their roles within their respective regions before running to the media with half-truths
Speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, a group of aggrieved members of the NBF from various regions, most of whom work on a voluntary basis, expressed dismay at the way the NBF is going about its business and claimed that the lack of financial and administrative support from the NBF head office here in Windhoek is to be blamed for the slow pace of development of basketball in the country. One of the members said they sometimes have to buy equipment such as balls from their own pockets and even cement to repair some basketball courts. "Most of our colleagues in other regions are well aware of the ongoing administrative shenanigans that have bedeviled domestic basketball for quite a while now, but they are reluctant to say it out loud because they are scared of being victimized. Most of the regional members have even quit doing their jobs due to the daily struggles they endure," said one irate member.
However, NBF Secretary-General Nande Kayala rubbished the allegations and shot back saying those members in the regions have failed the NBF and the entire basketball fraternity. Kayala further made it clear the regional structures of the NBF include a president, vice president, development officer, treasurer and a secretary general in each region and said the purpose of the structures is to allow regional members to run their own finances and administration. "Since the NBF does not have enough funds to feed all the regions, we designed these structures to allow the regions' presidents and subordinates to source their own funds within the communities where they operate and to put those funds back into the community by carrying out development programmes for the youth. The NBF itself is already under-funded, so how does one expect the NBF to feed more then seven regions with the little funds it gets from government," said Kayala. A clearly discomfited Kayala also took a swipe at the aggrieved members, saying they should first read the NBF constitution and understand their roles within their respective regions before running to the media with half-truths
ZIMBABWE : Basketball League Starts
ALL is set for the start of the Harare Basketball League 2013-2014 season this coming weekend with all matches scheduled for Richwood Park.
The season is expected to take off tomorrow with matches featuring teams from all the three leagues --the A League, women's league and B League.
This year the A League will see 12 men's clubs competing in one conference unlike last year when they were two conferences running at the same time and the Harare Basketball Association recently held play-offs that saw UZ Stars and Airforce Falcons getting promotion into the A League.
HBA spokesperson, Carlos Munda, said the 2013-2014 season will be a season with a difference as they expect strong competition from the teams.
"The season has started, it's hardwork for everyone. We say to the basketball family come and have fun with us. This is a season of exception, it will bring a lot of difference in all seasons of basketball.
"Everyone is geared up - the players, coaches, referees and the administrators," said Munda.
Munda said matches for this weekend will be at Richwood as it will be the official opening of the season.
"All matches are at Richwood because it's the official opening. After the official opening, the matches will be spread to other venues. In terms of refurbishments it's almost done, however, we still need help but we did what we can," said Munda.
The HBA spokesperson said they are looking forward to a better and fruitful season, especially now that they have a new executive led by
veteran coach Ngoni Mukukula, who is an inspiration to many in the basketball fraternity.
Munda said some of the clubs are still registering and the affiliation fee has been pegged at US$285.
Fixtures
A League
Tomorrow: Cheetahs v UZ Stars, JBC v Trail Blazers, Cameo v Pistons.
Sunday: Raiders v Hustlerz.
The season is expected to take off tomorrow with matches featuring teams from all the three leagues --the A League, women's league and B League.
This year the A League will see 12 men's clubs competing in one conference unlike last year when they were two conferences running at the same time and the Harare Basketball Association recently held play-offs that saw UZ Stars and Airforce Falcons getting promotion into the A League.
HBA spokesperson, Carlos Munda, said the 2013-2014 season will be a season with a difference as they expect strong competition from the teams.
"The season has started, it's hardwork for everyone. We say to the basketball family come and have fun with us. This is a season of exception, it will bring a lot of difference in all seasons of basketball.
"Everyone is geared up - the players, coaches, referees and the administrators," said Munda.
Munda said matches for this weekend will be at Richwood as it will be the official opening of the season.
"All matches are at Richwood because it's the official opening. After the official opening, the matches will be spread to other venues. In terms of refurbishments it's almost done, however, we still need help but we did what we can," said Munda.
The HBA spokesperson said they are looking forward to a better and fruitful season, especially now that they have a new executive led by
veteran coach Ngoni Mukukula, who is an inspiration to many in the basketball fraternity.
Munda said some of the clubs are still registering and the affiliation fee has been pegged at US$285.
Fixtures
A League
Tomorrow: Cheetahs v UZ Stars, JBC v Trail Blazers, Cameo v Pistons.
Sunday: Raiders v Hustlerz.
UGANDA : Sombre mood as City Oilers play KIU Titans
Mande (2nd L) speaks to his City Oilers team at the breather during the first round game between UCU at Lugogo. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA KAMPALA- As City Oilers prepare to face off with KIU Titans and Nkumba Marines play Charging Rhino at Lugogo this evening, it will be difficult for anyone associated with basketball in the country not to spare a thought for D-Mark Power and especially their coach Bernes Ankunda.
Ankunda lost his wife at the weekend and burial is set for tomorrow in Nairobi.
Ankunda lost his wife at the weekend and burial is set for tomorrow in Nairobi.
Kate Wanjiku Ankunda’s demise has prompted the decision to have City Oilers and not Power play KIU today. Power played on Wednesday and won 67-51 against Vegetarians but it was clear the players’ minds were elsewhere. From missed lay-ups to the consistent turnovers, Power were just intent on seeing out the game“We have obviously not trained since Saturday,” Power’s forward Isaac Afidra told the Daily Monitor after the game.
Local basketball governing body, Fuba, has predictably postponed Power’s second game of the week, paving way for what should be an entertaining fixture when fourth-placed City Oilers play KIU in the last of the two fixtures at Lugogo tonight.
City Oilers coach Mande Juruni though, says his side will not be affected by the sudden change of fixtures. ‘’We have been training normally and we are not bothered about which opponent we face,” Juruni said yesterday. “The only slight worry is that Andrew Opio is down with malaria.One player Juruni cannot afford to lose as the Oilers prepare to feature in the play-offs for the first time at this level is Kami Kabange. The big Rwandese centre who is among the favourites for the regular season MVP accolade has at times single-handedly carried Oilers. But Juruni feels general team effort has helped Oilers match the topflight division’s best.
“We are not a one-man team,” Juruni frequently argues. “You can’t underestimate the contribution of players like Arou Ramadhan and Jimmy Enabu.” KIU, with an 11-6 record will certainly be no pushovers as they aim to displace Falcons who currently occupy sixth spot.
“We are not a one-man team,” Juruni frequently argues. “You can’t underestimate the contribution of players like Arou Ramadhan and Jimmy Enabu.” KIU, with an 11-6 record will certainly be no pushovers as they aim to displace Falcons who currently occupy sixth spot.
The night’s other game (Marines and Charging Rhino) pits teams with an identical record of 4-14.
TODAY -LUGOGO FIXTURES
KIU Titans vs. City Oilers (8.30pm)
N. Marines vs. C. Rhinos (6.30pm)
Wednesday results
Power 67-51 Vegetarians
Ndejje Angels 75- 63 Miracle Eagles
N. Marines vs. C. Rhinos (6.30pm)
Wednesday results
Power 67-51 Vegetarians
Ndejje Angels 75- 63 Miracle Eagles
RWANDA : CSK vows to stun KBC in basketball league
CSK (blue) are currently in fifth position on the seven-team league table standing. Times Sport/ File.
Today (Men)
CSK vs KBC 7pm
Saturday
Espoir vs 30-Plus 2pm
UGB vs APR 4pm
Women
RAPP vs Ubumwe 2pm
Sunday
APR vs CSK 2pm
Espoir vs KBC 4pm
The 2011 Gisembe memorial tournament winners Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) are eager to give hard time to former champion sides KBC when the two sides meet in the national basketball league at Amahoro indoor stadium, starting at 7pm tonight.
CSK, formerly called ‘Amahoro Basketball Club, are currently fifth-placed in the seven-team table but are aiming to win their remaining four regular season second round games, starting this evening.
“The league title if far from our reach because we did not perform well in the first round but if we win our four remaining games in the second round, we have a good chance to finish second and that is our target,” said head coach Jean Guy Rutayisire.
The former APR player added, “The focus is on today’s game against KBC before we can start to even think of Sunday’s clash with APR. We need to win these two games and then we can plan for the remaining two fixtures against Rusizi and UGB.”
Rutayisire, who as a player, featured APR, Espoir, KBC and UGB, won five league titles with the military side from 2000 to 2005 before switching to Uganda’s side Falcons basketball club from 2005 to 2008 and helped them win three league titles.
In other league matches this weekend, defending champions Espoir will be up against bottom-placed 30-Plus on Saturday and KBC on Sunday, while former champions APR will face United Generation Basketball (UGB) and CSK on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
In women’s league, Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress face-off this year’s Gisembe memorial tournament winners Ubumwe on Saturday at Green Hills Academy court, starting at 2pm.
Before this weekend games, Rusizi BBC lead the men’s league table standing with 17 points, three ahead of second-placed and still unbeaten Espoir.
26 September 2013
UGANDA : Power see off Vegetarian in NBL
Vegetarian 51-67 Dmark Power
One of the major differences between teams in the national basketball league is the ability to take care of the ball when it matters.
Vegetarians made five unforced turnovers to start the fourth quarter and Dmark Power took advantage en route to the 67-51 win. Ben Komakech scored game high 17 points to lead Power, Joseph Ikong added 13 points and Paul Mwaka had 11.
Vegetarian (4-15) were competitive in the first three quarters and went into the last quarter trailing by four points but they were undone by their profligacy in ball handling in the final 10 minutes. Vinnie Jurua scored 16 points to lead Vegetarian but gave away the ball 9 times. Bernard Okum had 14 points and John Otto contributed 10 points.
Miracle Eagles suffered a similar trend in the 63-75 loss to Ndejje Angels. Eagles (1-17) struggled to score in the second half even from the line which has been the story of their season. Ivan Mago scored 12 points to lead eagles. Anthony Kibalama and Ronald Bajjunga contributed 11 points each and Abraham Isyagi added 10 points. Ndejje’s second string team played most of the game and with levity but still came out victorious. Dickson Asiku and Micheal Opolot led the way for Angels (13-5) with 14 and 12 points respectively off the bench. Jonah Otim had 13 points while Brian Odur and Andrew Deng contributed 10 points each.
Female Afrobasket Quarter-Finals Programme
Check below the fixtures for the quarter-finals, scheduled to be disputed Friday, of the African senior females basketball championship (Afrobasket2013), taking place in Maputo, Mozambique.
Fixtures:
Nigeria-Mozambique
Egypt-Angola
Mali-Senegal
Cote d'Ivoire-Cameroon
Fixtures:
Nigeria-Mozambique
Egypt-Angola
Mali-Senegal
Cote d'Ivoire-Cameroon
NIGERIA. : D'Tigress Through to Afrobasket Quarter-Final
The Nigeria women national basketball team, D'Tigress, yesterday lost its last group match, the third in the ongoing 2013 Afrobasket, as the Scott Nnaji-tutored girls crashed to Cameroon 71-65 despite putting up a good fight.
However, D'Tigress advanced to the quarter-final of the competition to face either Senegal or Mozambique tomorrow.
The Nigerian girls lost the first quarter 18-19, took the second and third quarters 18-16, 19-16 respectively before losing the last quarter 20-10.
Both Senegal and Mozambique have 8 points but Senegal are ahead on points having amassed +204 to Mozambique's +189.
Senegal will remain group leaders except they lose to the host in their last match which was about to start at the time of filing this report.
However, D'Tigress advanced to the quarter-final of the competition to face either Senegal or Mozambique tomorrow.
The Nigerian girls lost the first quarter 18-19, took the second and third quarters 18-16, 19-16 respectively before losing the last quarter 20-10.
Both Senegal and Mozambique have 8 points but Senegal are ahead on points having amassed +204 to Mozambique's +189.
Senegal will remain group leaders except they lose to the host in their last match which was about to start at the time of filing this report.
ANGOLA : Senior Female Basketball Team Face Egypt in Afrobasket's Quarter-Finals
The Angolan national senior female basketball team, winner of group B of the first phase of the African Cup of Nations (Afrobasket2013), will play on Friday Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Angola ended invincible the first phase of Afrobasket, after beating in extra time Mali by 67-66, in the group B's last round of the referred competition, taking place in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Angolans, African defending champions, totalled five straight wins against Nigeria (60-46), Cape Verde (76-51), Kenya (45-39) and Cameroon (48-44).
Angola ended invincible the first phase of Afrobasket, after beating in extra time Mali by 67-66, in the group B's last round of the referred competition, taking place in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Angolans, African defending champions, totalled five straight wins against Nigeria (60-46), Cape Verde (76-51), Kenya (45-39) and Cameroon (48-44).
25 September 2013
UGANDA : Power to play for Ankunda
Today at ymca
Vegeterian vs. Power 6.30pm
Miracle vs. Ndejje 8.30pm
Vegeterian vs. Power 6.30pm
Miracle vs. Ndejje 8.30pm
KAMPALA
This is a trying time for DMark Power. Their coach, Bernes Ankunda, lost his wife at the weekend and with the burial slated for Saturday in Kenya, basketball may not be the only thing on the players’ minds.
The five-time champions though play Vegetarian in the first of two games at YMCA, Wandegeya today while Ndejje University Angels face the men’s topflight division’s worst team Miracle Eagles (1-1)
Having beaten Falcons, Vegetarians will hope to claim another scalp in third-placed Power (15-2), set to turn play without Ankunda. “I am going to be away for a long time,” Ankunda said.
The players have tried to offer some support to their coach. “We want to win this game for him. Although we know it will obviously be scant consolation, our hearts are with his family in this trying time,” forward Isaac Afidra told the Daily Monitor yesterday
That will not be the team’s only motivation though; UCU Canon’s 63-65 loss to champions Riham Warriors last Friday means securing the number one seeding for the play-offs is in Power’s hands.
The first round fixture against Vegeterian ended in a 70-36 blowout victory for Power. The return to form of two-time MVP Ben Komakech after a wrist injury makes Power overwhelming favourites for another win.
KENYA : USIU Stun Ulinzi in Premier League Basketball Encounter
UNITED States International University (USIU) stunned Ulinzi Warriors 66-57 in a premier league basketball clash at Upper Hill School. The "Tigers" who trailed 10-8 and 19-16 at the end of the first and second quarter.
But they recovered to take the third 23-19 and the fourth 19-14 to carry the day against the former six time champions. Victor Bosire led the scoring tally with 16 points while Kelvin Macharia managed 12.
For the soldiers William Ochieng tallied 10 as did Ben Mufutu. Strathmore "Swords" pipped Thunder 44-42 behind 13 points from Joseph Owino while University of Nairobi "Terrorists" blanked relegation doomed Blazers 47-27 as Frank Manyala led with eight points. USIU ladies rolled past Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 57-20 as Magnifigue Magnifigue nailed 11 points.
But they recovered to take the third 23-19 and the fourth 19-14 to carry the day against the former six time champions. Victor Bosire led the scoring tally with 16 points while Kelvin Macharia managed 12.
For the soldiers William Ochieng tallied 10 as did Ben Mufutu. Strathmore "Swords" pipped Thunder 44-42 behind 13 points from Joseph Owino while University of Nairobi "Terrorists" blanked relegation doomed Blazers 47-27 as Frank Manyala led with eight points. USIU ladies rolled past Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 57-20 as Magnifigue Magnifigue nailed 11 points.
CCCOI MAURICE 2013 : Hawks et Stars s’envolent pour Maurice ce mercredi
Les formations seychelloises – Anse Etoile Stars (féminine) et PLS Hawks (masculine) – seront les premières à fouler le sol mauricien ce mercredi afin de participer à l’édition 2013 de la Coupe des Clubs Champions de l’Océan Indien (CCCOI) de basket-ball.
Cette compétition réunira les équipes venant de Madagascar, de La Réunion, des Seychelles, de Mayotte et de Maurice.
Les Réunionnais seront représentés par le Tampon BC (dames) et St Pierre (hommes), Mayotte par le BCM (dames) et le TCO (hommes), Maurice par le Real (hommes) et BBRH-Hoop (dames).
Si tous les pays seront représentés par une équipe masculine et une équipe féminine, seul Madagascar sera représenté en masculin uniquement par l’ASTUC.
Le coup d’envoi sera donné le dimanche 29 septembre à 11h30 au gymnase de Phoenix avec la cérémonie d’ouverture. Le premier match mettra aux prises les Mauriciennes de BBRH-Hoop aux Mahoraises du BCM à 13h.
Suivront deux rencontres masculines, avec à 15h les Malgaches d’ASTUC opposés aux Seychellois de Hawks, et à 17h le choc de la première journée mettant le Real de Maurice aux prises avec les Réunionnais de St Pierre.
Les champions masculin et féminin seront désignés le samedi 5 octobre. Les finales féminine et masculine se tiendront respectivement à partir de 16h et 18h.
Dans une interview avec la presse mauricienne, le président de la Fédération mauricienne de basket-ball (FMBB), M. Philippe Lee Kam Chung a dit que la compétition se déroulera selon les règlements de la FIBA (Fédération internationale de Basket-ball).
Il a ajouté que la CCCOI pourrait voir la présence des officiels de la FIBA Afrique qui feront le déplacement pour suivre la compétition. « Il se pourrait que le président de la FIBA Afrique soit présent. Mais pour l’instant, il nous a seulement signifié son intention d’être présent », a précisé M. Lee Kam Chung.
La présidente de la Fédération seychelloise de basket-ball, Mme Sheila Ah-kong sera à la tête de la délégation seychelloise qui comprend aussi deux arbitres – Tony Juliette et Daryl Nourrice.
L’équipe d’Anse Etoile Stars : Jana Malbrook, Veena Panagary, Irene Bau, Magdeline Julienne, Burtina Désir, Lucia Souffe, Zita Siméon, Victoria Sochugova, Jurisanne Memé, Geneviève Beaudouin et Chantal Pierre (joueuses), Michel Malbrook (entraîneur) et Charles Abel (manager).
L’équipe de PLS Hawks : Jim Domingue, Bernard Bristol, Barry Baron, Rodney Lozé, Daniel Victor, Rodney Sinon, Hendricks Denis, Daniel Edmond, Wilby Domingue, Alao Solomon, Neddy Fanchette, Jean-Paul Desaubin, Romeo Victor (joueurs), James Joubert (manager), Danny Esparon (manager adjoint), Clifford Joubert (entraîneur chef), Alix Allisop (entraîneur adjoint), Jack Laurence (statisticien) et Anthony Soomery (physiothérapeute).
L’entraîneur Malbrook est confiant que malgré l’absence de Simone Malbrook (blessée à l’épaule mais qui quand même fera partie de la délégation), les filles vont jouer du beau basket-ball.
« Elles sont motivées, et ont montré qu’elles ont envie de faire bonne figure dans cette compétition en battant HotShots et Mont Fleuri lors des matches du championnat en l’absence de Simone. J’espère que la chance nous sourira », a dit le coach Malbrook à Sports Nation.
Clifford Joubert a quant à lui expliqué que PLS Hawks sera à la recherche du titre de la CCCOI.
« Mon objectif premier est que mon équipe joue bien. Je suis certain que mes joueurs ont les qualités pour réaliser une bonne prestation et faire un bon tournoi. Nous sommes passés tout près du triomphe à plusieurs reprises. Il est temps que nous jouions un jeu collectif pour triompher. Nous attendons le trophée de champion cette fois-ci », a-t-il expliqué à Sports Nation.
G. G.
Cette compétition réunira les équipes venant de Madagascar, de La Réunion, des Seychelles, de Mayotte et de Maurice.
Les Réunionnais seront représentés par le Tampon BC (dames) et St Pierre (hommes), Mayotte par le BCM (dames) et le TCO (hommes), Maurice par le Real (hommes) et BBRH-Hoop (dames).
Si tous les pays seront représentés par une équipe masculine et une équipe féminine, seul Madagascar sera représenté en masculin uniquement par l’ASTUC.
Le coup d’envoi sera donné le dimanche 29 septembre à 11h30 au gymnase de Phoenix avec la cérémonie d’ouverture. Le premier match mettra aux prises les Mauriciennes de BBRH-Hoop aux Mahoraises du BCM à 13h.
Suivront deux rencontres masculines, avec à 15h les Malgaches d’ASTUC opposés aux Seychellois de Hawks, et à 17h le choc de la première journée mettant le Real de Maurice aux prises avec les Réunionnais de St Pierre.
Les champions masculin et féminin seront désignés le samedi 5 octobre. Les finales féminine et masculine se tiendront respectivement à partir de 16h et 18h.
Dans une interview avec la presse mauricienne, le président de la Fédération mauricienne de basket-ball (FMBB), M. Philippe Lee Kam Chung a dit que la compétition se déroulera selon les règlements de la FIBA (Fédération internationale de Basket-ball).
Il a ajouté que la CCCOI pourrait voir la présence des officiels de la FIBA Afrique qui feront le déplacement pour suivre la compétition. « Il se pourrait que le président de la FIBA Afrique soit présent. Mais pour l’instant, il nous a seulement signifié son intention d’être présent », a précisé M. Lee Kam Chung.
La présidente de la Fédération seychelloise de basket-ball, Mme Sheila Ah-kong sera à la tête de la délégation seychelloise qui comprend aussi deux arbitres – Tony Juliette et Daryl Nourrice.
L’équipe d’Anse Etoile Stars : Jana Malbrook, Veena Panagary, Irene Bau, Magdeline Julienne, Burtina Désir, Lucia Souffe, Zita Siméon, Victoria Sochugova, Jurisanne Memé, Geneviève Beaudouin et Chantal Pierre (joueuses), Michel Malbrook (entraîneur) et Charles Abel (manager).
L’équipe de PLS Hawks : Jim Domingue, Bernard Bristol, Barry Baron, Rodney Lozé, Daniel Victor, Rodney Sinon, Hendricks Denis, Daniel Edmond, Wilby Domingue, Alao Solomon, Neddy Fanchette, Jean-Paul Desaubin, Romeo Victor (joueurs), James Joubert (manager), Danny Esparon (manager adjoint), Clifford Joubert (entraîneur chef), Alix Allisop (entraîneur adjoint), Jack Laurence (statisticien) et Anthony Soomery (physiothérapeute).
L’entraîneur Malbrook est confiant que malgré l’absence de Simone Malbrook (blessée à l’épaule mais qui quand même fera partie de la délégation), les filles vont jouer du beau basket-ball.
« Elles sont motivées, et ont montré qu’elles ont envie de faire bonne figure dans cette compétition en battant HotShots et Mont Fleuri lors des matches du championnat en l’absence de Simone. J’espère que la chance nous sourira », a dit le coach Malbrook à Sports Nation.
Clifford Joubert a quant à lui expliqué que PLS Hawks sera à la recherche du titre de la CCCOI.
« Mon objectif premier est que mon équipe joue bien. Je suis certain que mes joueurs ont les qualités pour réaliser une bonne prestation et faire un bon tournoi. Nous sommes passés tout près du triomphe à plusieurs reprises. Il est temps que nous jouions un jeu collectif pour triompher. Nous attendons le trophée de champion cette fois-ci », a-t-il expliqué à Sports Nation.
G. G.
RWANDA : KBC x Espoir
Sunday
MenKBC 54-49 APR
UGB 54-76 Rusizi
Women
Ubumwe 70-50 RAPP
KIGALI BASKETBALL CLUB (KBC) have turned their focus on this weekend’s clash against defending champions Espoir after maintaining an unbeaten run in the second round of the national basketball league.
Last Sunday, KBC registered double victories over APR 54-49 and a 90-71 win over United Generation basketball club (UGB).
UGB had a weekend to forget about after losing their second game to Rusizi 76-54.
KBC head coach Cyrille Kalima told Times Sport, “I am happy for the way my club played last Sunday. Our focus is now on the decisive match against Espoir on Sunday,”
“We want to win all our second round games matches and if we could beat Espoir, then this would open our gates to success this season.”
In the women’s league, Ubumwe basketball club lost to defending champions APR 38-56 on Saturday, but recovered to beat Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress 70-50 on Sunday.
Espoir still have five matches to play while other contenders KBC and Rusizi remain with three and two games, respectively.
Rusizi BBC now top the standings with 17 points, KBC is second with 16 points while defending champions Espoir are third with 14 points.
MenKBC 54-49 APR
UGB 54-76 Rusizi
Women
Ubumwe 70-50 RAPP
KIGALI BASKETBALL CLUB (KBC) have turned their focus on this weekend’s clash against defending champions Espoir after maintaining an unbeaten run in the second round of the national basketball league.
Last Sunday, KBC registered double victories over APR 54-49 and a 90-71 win over United Generation basketball club (UGB).
UGB had a weekend to forget about after losing their second game to Rusizi 76-54.
KBC head coach Cyrille Kalima told Times Sport, “I am happy for the way my club played last Sunday. Our focus is now on the decisive match against Espoir on Sunday,”
“We want to win all our second round games matches and if we could beat Espoir, then this would open our gates to success this season.”
In the women’s league, Ubumwe basketball club lost to defending champions APR 38-56 on Saturday, but recovered to beat Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress 70-50 on Sunday.
Espoir still have five matches to play while other contenders KBC and Rusizi remain with three and two games, respectively.
Rusizi BBC now top the standings with 17 points, KBC is second with 16 points while defending champions Espoir are third with 14 points.
24 September 2013
NIGERIA : D'Tigress Keep Hope Alive, Beat Kenya 79-49
Nigeria's women national basketball team, D'Tigree yesterday revive the hope of advancing to the next stage of the ongoing 2013 Afrobasket for women in Maputo, Mozambique, with a 74-49 win over Kenya in their second game at the competition.
The Nigerian ladies had crashed 46-60 to tournament defending champion Angola in their opening game.
But yesterday, the Coach Scott Nnaji-tutored side thrashed 2007 winners Mali to give hope of progressing to the next round of the tournament.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group-B with defending champion Angola, Mali, Cameroon, Cape Verde and Kenya.
The match, which was played at the Maxaquene Stadium, was the first Group B match of the day.
The teams are jostling for the two Africa tickets to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Championship for Women in Turkey
The Nigerian girls will battle Mali today in their third group match and the square up against meet Cape Verde on Tuesday.
The team's last group match will come up on Wednesday against Cameroon.
The Nigerian ladies had crashed 46-60 to tournament defending champion Angola in their opening game.
But yesterday, the Coach Scott Nnaji-tutored side thrashed 2007 winners Mali to give hope of progressing to the next round of the tournament.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group-B with defending champion Angola, Mali, Cameroon, Cape Verde and Kenya.
The match, which was played at the Maxaquene Stadium, was the first Group B match of the day.
The teams are jostling for the two Africa tickets to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Championship for Women in Turkey
The Nigerian girls will battle Mali today in their third group match and the square up against meet Cape Verde on Tuesday.
The team's last group match will come up on Wednesday against Cameroon.
23 September 2013
NIGERIA : Dstv Basketball League Ends in Style
MultiChoice Nigeria, lived up to expectation last Saturday, when it hosted guests to an exciting blend of basketball games and musical performances from select artistes to commemorate the company's 20 years of operation in the country. The DStv All-Star/celebrity Basketball Showdown which took place at the University of Lagos's Sports Hall, Akoka, Yaba featured top players from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences of the DStv Premier Basketball League.
The showdown also featured music icons and notable TV personalities like MI, Sound Sultan, Darey, Ikechukwu, Bovi, Praise, Tee Billz, Gideon Okeke, Gbenga Ajibade, Olisa Adibuah, Melvin Oduah and other on air personalities in the celebrity challenge. Team Beat FM defeated the Channel O basketball team 18-17 to clinch the title for the celebrity showdown. In the star match between Atlantic and Savannah Conferences' all-star, Team Atlantic won by 104 to 103 points in a tightly contested battle. The winners received N1 million as cash prize while Savannah got N500, 000.
John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, said: "One of our major focus is sports development. We know that basketball everywhere goes with entertainment and that is what we want to bring to Nigeria. For us at MultiChoice, sports and entertainment go hand in hand. We want basketball to be the sport that brings families out to the courts to enjoy the thrills and passion of the game."
In the same vein, Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, thanked the audience for coming to watch the all-star/celebrity basketball game, promising that MultiChoice will do more for the game in the years ahead to ensure that the momentum gained by the success of the 2013 season does not wane. "At MultiChoice, we are proud of the gains of the 2013 Season of the DStv Premier Basketball League. That is why we decided to cap the season with the all-star/celebrity showdown. We know that families like to have fun when they watch basketball games, so we put together their favourite celebrities in a game that pitched these celebs against one another. You saw the game between Beat FM and Channel O. We also brought your favourite music acts, Burna Boy and Olamide, to thrill the audience."
Mabutho further stated that MultiChoice, which signed a four-year title sponsorship deal with the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) was already in talks with NBBF and other stakeholders on how to improve the standard of the league in forthcoming seasons.
MultiChoice Nigeria is the headline sponsor of the DStv Premier Basketball League. Aside the N218 million cash, SuperSport, MultiChoice's sister company which provides sports content on DStv, provides live coverage of the league games from both conferences throughout the season.
Highlights of the all-star/celebrity jump ball were the presentation of prizes to individuals who distinguished themselves during the all-star showdown. Dodan Warrior of Lagos player, Azuoma Dike, from the Atlantic Conference won the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award of N250, 000 cash and trophy while Kada Stars of Kaduna player, Timothy Kwaore of Savannah team, won the Three-Point-Shoot Award of N100, 000. "Jagbajantis" crooner, Sound Sultan, emerged as MVP in the celebrity jump off.
The showdown also featured music icons and notable TV personalities like MI, Sound Sultan, Darey, Ikechukwu, Bovi, Praise, Tee Billz, Gideon Okeke, Gbenga Ajibade, Olisa Adibuah, Melvin Oduah and other on air personalities in the celebrity challenge. Team Beat FM defeated the Channel O basketball team 18-17 to clinch the title for the celebrity showdown. In the star match between Atlantic and Savannah Conferences' all-star, Team Atlantic won by 104 to 103 points in a tightly contested battle. The winners received N1 million as cash prize while Savannah got N500, 000.
John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, said: "One of our major focus is sports development. We know that basketball everywhere goes with entertainment and that is what we want to bring to Nigeria. For us at MultiChoice, sports and entertainment go hand in hand. We want basketball to be the sport that brings families out to the courts to enjoy the thrills and passion of the game."
In the same vein, Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, thanked the audience for coming to watch the all-star/celebrity basketball game, promising that MultiChoice will do more for the game in the years ahead to ensure that the momentum gained by the success of the 2013 season does not wane. "At MultiChoice, we are proud of the gains of the 2013 Season of the DStv Premier Basketball League. That is why we decided to cap the season with the all-star/celebrity showdown. We know that families like to have fun when they watch basketball games, so we put together their favourite celebrities in a game that pitched these celebs against one another. You saw the game between Beat FM and Channel O. We also brought your favourite music acts, Burna Boy and Olamide, to thrill the audience."
Mabutho further stated that MultiChoice, which signed a four-year title sponsorship deal with the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) was already in talks with NBBF and other stakeholders on how to improve the standard of the league in forthcoming seasons.
MultiChoice Nigeria is the headline sponsor of the DStv Premier Basketball League. Aside the N218 million cash, SuperSport, MultiChoice's sister company which provides sports content on DStv, provides live coverage of the league games from both conferences throughout the season.
Highlights of the all-star/celebrity jump ball were the presentation of prizes to individuals who distinguished themselves during the all-star showdown. Dodan Warrior of Lagos player, Azuoma Dike, from the Atlantic Conference won the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award of N250, 000 cash and trophy while Kada Stars of Kaduna player, Timothy Kwaore of Savannah team, won the Three-Point-Shoot Award of N100, 000. "Jagbajantis" crooner, Sound Sultan, emerged as MVP in the celebrity jump off.
22 September 2013
KENYA : Kenyans fall to Nigerians in Afrobasket
Kenya team during their opener against Cameroon in Maputo on Friday.(Photo:Courtesy)
Eagle Wings Silalei Shani sunk a game high 17 points but it was not enough to get Kenya past the fancied Nigerian side in their second match of the women Afrobasketball championships on Saturday in Maputo.
Nigeria, winners of the event in 2003 and 2005, were clearly the stronger side against the Kenyans who fell to Cameroon in their opener on Friday took control of the game right from the buzzer as they won the first quarter 17-11.
They West Africans picked up from where they left off with Sarah Ogoke’s and Ndidi Awele sinking three pointers that gave them a 32-22 lead at the break.
By the end of the third quarter the Nigerians had opened a 19-point lead as they restricted Kenya to a paltry six points scored only by Shani and USIU's Hildah Indasi.
Kenya were able to settle in the last quarter which they managed 21 points Nigerians’ 27 but it was a little to late. Awele(17) and Magdalene Ukato (15) ensured the speedy and skilled Nigerians win their match at the Afrobasket after their 60-46 loss to the defending champions Angola the previous day.
Kenya will face Angola on Sunday while Nigeria squares it out with Mali, Africa's top ranked side.
The 12 teams championship in the Mozambican capital doubles up as a qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Championships for Women that will be held in Turkey.
Collated Results: Friday -Egypt 69 Senegal 100,Mali 73 Cape Verde 62,Cameroon 61 Kenya 39, Angola 60 Nigeria 46, Cote d'Ivoire 56 Algeria 48
Saturday Nigeria 74 Kenya 49,Zimbabwe 66 Algeria 73, Mali 64 Cameroon 67, Cape Verde 51 Angola 76
Nigeria, winners of the event in 2003 and 2005, were clearly the stronger side against the Kenyans who fell to Cameroon in their opener on Friday took control of the game right from the buzzer as they won the first quarter 17-11.
They West Africans picked up from where they left off with Sarah Ogoke’s and Ndidi Awele sinking three pointers that gave them a 32-22 lead at the break.
By the end of the third quarter the Nigerians had opened a 19-point lead as they restricted Kenya to a paltry six points scored only by Shani and USIU's Hildah Indasi.
Kenya were able to settle in the last quarter which they managed 21 points Nigerians’ 27 but it was a little to late. Awele(17) and Magdalene Ukato (15) ensured the speedy and skilled Nigerians win their match at the Afrobasket after their 60-46 loss to the defending champions Angola the previous day.
Kenya will face Angola on Sunday while Nigeria squares it out with Mali, Africa's top ranked side.
The 12 teams championship in the Mozambican capital doubles up as a qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Championships for Women that will be held in Turkey.
Collated Results: Friday -Egypt 69 Senegal 100,Mali 73 Cape Verde 62,Cameroon 61 Kenya 39, Angola 60 Nigeria 46, Cote d'Ivoire 56 Algeria 48
Saturday Nigeria 74 Kenya 49,Zimbabwe 66 Algeria 73, Mali 64 Cameroon 67, Cape Verde 51 Angola 76
UGANDA : Gombya silences UCU
Friday League Results
M: UCU 63-65 Warriors
W: KIU 56-64 KCCA
M: UCU 63-65 Warriors
W: KIU 56-64 KCCA
Two UCU Canons, Rumanyika (L) and Namake (R), make a futile attempt to double-team Gombya. Photo by Ismail Kezaala.
By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Today at Lugogo
M: Nkumba vs. Falcons (7.30pm)
M: City Oilers vs. Heaters (3.30pm)
M: KIU vs. Vegetarian (1.30pm)
W: A1 vs. Stormers (5.30pm)
W: Nabisunsa vs. Gladiators (11.30am)
M: Nkumba vs. Falcons (7.30pm)
M: City Oilers vs. Heaters (3.30pm)
M: KIU vs. Vegetarian (1.30pm)
W: A1 vs. Stormers (5.30pm)
W: Nabisunsa vs. Gladiators (11.30am)
It’s on nights like Friday that mental fortitude is tested. Besides resilience, the depth is also put to test.
Champions Riham Warriors ticked those two boxes to beat UCU Canons 65-63.
Down 16 (20-36) at the end of second quarter, Warriors looked clueless. They were destined for a sixth loss in the Airtel National Basketball League. With the Lugogo MTN Arena packed to the rafters, UCU’s inside players were dominating the game early on and in some instances, it looked too easy in cleaning the boards.
Warriors had to find a trump card. Enter 7ft 2in Sam Gombya. His ability is limited but his size is always decisive. He was simply unstoppable in the third period which Warriors started on an 8-0 run. Gombya scored 14 of his 16 points here, adding 11 rebounds. Scoring wasn’t the whole story.
Four fouls
Desmond Owili, Ivan Rumanyika, Brian Namake and Moses Chuma accumulated four fouls inside the first four minutes of the quarter trying to stop him. Rumanyika fouled out
Desmond Owili, Ivan Rumanyika, Brian Namake and Moses Chuma accumulated four fouls inside the first four minutes of the quarter trying to stop him. Rumanyika fouled out
All of them got trapped under Gombya. He simply got into their heads. They had to sit on the bench for most of the second half. Only Owili returned in the fourth. “Gombya is 7ft 3in. You cannot teach someone to be 7ft 3in,” UCU coach Nicholas Natuhereza, whose team wore a new ‘unlucky’ jersey, said. “We did a good job on Gombya with our big guys on the bench.” It came a little too late as he took away one of their strengths. Sam Rukaire tried to limit Gombya“He had a really big impact. When he got on, he showed he really wanted to play,” Warriors’ Emmy Samanya concurred after earning ‘revenge’ for the 58-63 loss back in May.
If Gombya provided the impetus, Henry Malinga was the connoisseur for their 14th victory in 19 games and consequently drop UCU to 15-3 to hand DMark Power (14-2) the initiative at the summit. Malinga’s duel with Owili was thrilling to watch. The veteran is too smart for the energetic Kenyan whose temperament continues to let him down on the biggest stage.
Feeling unwell
“Maturity,” Malinga, scorer of 17 points including the go-ahead put-back, and 10 rebounds, said was the ingredient to ‘cleaning’ Owili. They also restricted UCU’s volume scorers – Sudi Ulanga and Owili to seven and six points. Even Cryrus Kiviri’s team-high 14 points were too
“Maturity,” Malinga, scorer of 17 points including the go-ahead put-back, and 10 rebounds, said was the ingredient to ‘cleaning’ Owili. They also restricted UCU’s volume scorers – Sudi Ulanga and Owili to seven and six points. Even Cryrus Kiviri’s team-high 14 points were too
“I wasn’t feeling well. Me and Desmond let the team down,” shooter Ulanga admitted later. “I think he didn’t have a lot confidence I don’t know why,” his coach added.
Perhaps, more disheartening is how UCU threw a game which Warriors had played catch-up from gun to tape, scoring only seven in the final 10 minutes.
Ex-Warriors Kiviri to turned the ball over thrice in the final three minutes and wipe the thin advantage they still held!
RWANDA : APR’s Owour aiming for finish basketball league
Sunday (Women) Ubumwe vs RAPP - 11am
Men
UGB vs Rusizi - 10am
APR vs KBC - 12pm
Saturday (Men)30-Plus BBC 59-80 Rusizi
WomenAPR 56 -38 Ubumwe
Friday (Men)KBC 39-38 UGB
APR BASKETBALL club head coach, Cliff Owuor has urged his players to salvage the season by at least finishing second in the regular league and qualify as second seed for the Playoffs.
The former champions take on rivals KBC on Sunday at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, starting at 12pm seeking to win and close the gap on the leaders and defending champions Espoir, who are not in action this weekend.
With five games left in the regular season, Owuor’s side are fourth in the seven-team league table standing with 12 points two points behind Espoir.
The former Kenyan international said recently, “Our target is to finish in the top two in league and I think we are on track because this team is getting better day by day.”
On Saturday, Rusizi got back to winning ways after losing their two games last weekend by beating the bottom side 30-Plus 80-59.
In the women’s league, defending champions APR beat Ubumwe 56 – 38 at the National Paralympics gymnasium at Amahoro stadium, while on Sunday, Ubumwe will come up against Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP).
Contact email: peter.kamasa[at]newtimes.co.rw
Men
UGB vs Rusizi - 10am
APR vs KBC - 12pm
Saturday (Men)30-Plus BBC 59-80 Rusizi
WomenAPR 56 -38 Ubumwe
Friday (Men)KBC 39-38 UGB
APR BASKETBALL club head coach, Cliff Owuor has urged his players to salvage the season by at least finishing second in the regular league and qualify as second seed for the Playoffs.
The former champions take on rivals KBC on Sunday at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, starting at 12pm seeking to win and close the gap on the leaders and defending champions Espoir, who are not in action this weekend.
With five games left in the regular season, Owuor’s side are fourth in the seven-team league table standing with 12 points two points behind Espoir.
The former Kenyan international said recently, “Our target is to finish in the top two in league and I think we are on track because this team is getting better day by day.”
On Saturday, Rusizi got back to winning ways after losing their two games last weekend by beating the bottom side 30-Plus 80-59.
In the women’s league, defending champions APR beat Ubumwe 56 – 38 at the National Paralympics gymnasium at Amahoro stadium, while on Sunday, Ubumwe will come up against Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP).
Contact email: peter.kamasa[at]newtimes.co.rw
21 September 2013
KENYA : Cameroon make easy work of Kenya in Afrobasket
Kenya women's team in a past match in Maputo during the All Africa Games.(Photo:SNA File)
Kenya women basketball team had a false start at the 2013 Afrobasket Championship falling 39-61 to Cameroon in their Group B opening match played in Maputo, Mozambique on Friday.
Cameroon, whose players who had to spend about 18 hours at the JKIA on their way to Maputo on Wednesday after they were denied transit visas, made good their revenge threat by paying back on the court.
The West African team proved superior of their East African counterparts winning all the quarters 18-11, 12-7, 13-12 and 18-9 respectively.
Purity Auma, who plays for Uganda Christian University, top scored for Kenya with ten points in a game that baskets proved hard coming for the Ronnie Owino ladies.
She grabbed eight rebounds and two steals while point guard Samba Mjomba had two assists.
Gani Njiogap scored 12 points for Cameroon. Kenya’s weakness on the offensive was clearly exposed with 21 turnovers against Cameroon’s 14 that unfavorably tilted possession the opponents’ way.
Kenya’s 18 rebounds against Cameroon’s 20 complicated matters further for the Kenyans who will have to re-strategize before their next match.
At the free-throw line, Kenya was stronger than Cameroon scoring seven out of the possible nine while Cameroon scored nine out of the possible fourteen.
Kenya did not score any three-pointer from eight attempts while Cameroon scored six out of thirteen attempts.
In the other matches of the group, Mali beat Cape Verde 73-62 while Angola labored to a 60-46 win over Nigeria. Egypt lost 69-100 to Senegal.
Cameroon, whose players who had to spend about 18 hours at the JKIA on their way to Maputo on Wednesday after they were denied transit visas, made good their revenge threat by paying back on the court.
The West African team proved superior of their East African counterparts winning all the quarters 18-11, 12-7, 13-12 and 18-9 respectively.
Purity Auma, who plays for Uganda Christian University, top scored for Kenya with ten points in a game that baskets proved hard coming for the Ronnie Owino ladies.
She grabbed eight rebounds and two steals while point guard Samba Mjomba had two assists.
Gani Njiogap scored 12 points for Cameroon. Kenya’s weakness on the offensive was clearly exposed with 21 turnovers against Cameroon’s 14 that unfavorably tilted possession the opponents’ way.
Kenya’s 18 rebounds against Cameroon’s 20 complicated matters further for the Kenyans who will have to re-strategize before their next match.
At the free-throw line, Kenya was stronger than Cameroon scoring seven out of the possible nine while Cameroon scored nine out of the possible fourteen.
Kenya did not score any three-pointer from eight attempts while Cameroon scored six out of thirteen attempts.
In the other matches of the group, Mali beat Cape Verde 73-62 while Angola labored to a 60-46 win over Nigeria. Egypt lost 69-100 to Senegal.
SEYCHELLES : Division two knockout
Bullets fly into final
After missing out on the second division title last weekend, Cascade Bullets now have another chance of claiming a piece of silverware as they gear up to face Juniors in the division two knockout final.
In the semifinal match played on Thursday, the Bullets managed to overcome Razors to book their place in today’s final scheduled to start at 2pm at Victoria Gymnasium.
Things started off well for the Bullets when they took an early four-point lead after the first quarter (16-12). However, things changed in the second as Razors rallied back to win it 20-8 to lead by 8 points – 32-24 – at half-time.
Cascade needed to regain the concentration to avoid another disappointment and they did just that when they reduced the deficit to 3 points – 37-40 – after they won the third quarter 13-8.
The fourth 10-minute spell would prove to be very decisive and it was when the Bullets played their best throughout the game as they went on to win it 28-15 and clinch the game on a 65-55 final score.
The win means Cascade will meet the young Juniors side who upset Anse Etoile earlier on Tuesday.
The final will be played today at 2pm at Victoria Gymnasium with both teams doing their best to win.
The Bullets need the win to perhaps give them a boost in their quest to reach the top division via the playoffs, while Juniors will be aiming to continue their giant-killing act which would surely be a memorable victory for the young players.
S. N.
After missing out on the second division title last weekend, Cascade Bullets now have another chance of claiming a piece of silverware as they gear up to face Juniors in the division two knockout final.
In the semifinal match played on Thursday, the Bullets managed to overcome Razors to book their place in today’s final scheduled to start at 2pm at Victoria Gymnasium.
Things started off well for the Bullets when they took an early four-point lead after the first quarter (16-12). However, things changed in the second as Razors rallied back to win it 20-8 to lead by 8 points – 32-24 – at half-time.
Cascade needed to regain the concentration to avoid another disappointment and they did just that when they reduced the deficit to 3 points – 37-40 – after they won the third quarter 13-8.
The fourth 10-minute spell would prove to be very decisive and it was when the Bullets played their best throughout the game as they went on to win it 28-15 and clinch the game on a 65-55 final score.
The win means Cascade will meet the young Juniors side who upset Anse Etoile earlier on Tuesday.
The final will be played today at 2pm at Victoria Gymnasium with both teams doing their best to win.
The Bullets need the win to perhaps give them a boost in their quest to reach the top division via the playoffs, while Juniors will be aiming to continue their giant-killing act which would surely be a memorable victory for the young players.
S. N.
20 September 2013
KENYA : Thunder Come Up Against Lions At Upper Hill School
LEADERS Thunder play third placed Lions in an explosive premier league basketball tie at Upper Hill School tomorrow.
Thunder, who top the 12 team table with 30 points from 17 matches, will bank on Griffin Ligare while Lions who are third on 29 points have the ever dangerous Tobias Onyango and Ancette Wafula.
Lions second match is against Mennonites.
Strathmore who are fourth on have 29 points have a date with the relegation doomed Blazers and also tackle Thunder in an equally tight encounter. Blazers also play University of Nairobi "Terrorists".
Former six time champions Ulinzi play United States International University and then take on UoN.
"Tigers", who are deep down in position nine must fire from all cylinders to regain the form that saw them finish second last year.
The women's matches will see second placed Coop Bank meet Mennonites who have had a bad year by all standards. An all university clash pits USIU against Kenyatta University "Oryx".
Thunder, who top the 12 team table with 30 points from 17 matches, will bank on Griffin Ligare while Lions who are third on 29 points have the ever dangerous Tobias Onyango and Ancette Wafula.
Lions second match is against Mennonites.
Strathmore who are fourth on have 29 points have a date with the relegation doomed Blazers and also tackle Thunder in an equally tight encounter. Blazers also play University of Nairobi "Terrorists".
Former six time champions Ulinzi play United States International University and then take on UoN.
"Tigers", who are deep down in position nine must fire from all cylinders to regain the form that saw them finish second last year.
The women's matches will see second placed Coop Bank meet Mennonites who have had a bad year by all standards. An all university clash pits USIU against Kenyatta University "Oryx".
UGANDA : Warriors look to disarm UCU
Kiviri (with ball) tries to find the hoop through a forest of Warriors’ hands during this years’s first round clash between the two sides at the MTN Arena in Lugogo. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
By ISMAIL DHAKABA KIGONGOKAMPALA- One game after the other, the fight for the number one seed in the Airtel National Basketball League has fizzled out to include only two teams.
UCU Canons and DMark Power are slugging out it out to finish top at the end of the regular season. Perhaps, nothing will be decided until the two clash on October 11.
For that two happen, both must continue to take care of their business in order to keep the fight in their hands until that day.
UCU have done a good job, winning 15 of their 17 games thus far and can make it 16 victories if they beat champions Riham Warriors tonight at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
UCU have done a good job, winning 15 of their 17 games thus far and can make it 16 victories if they beat champions Riham Warriors tonight at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
This is the game that UCU cannot take lightly as they have lost to Warriors in three of their four semifinal appearances. In fact, the margins are always razor thin. Thus far, UCU have looked the more settled and consistent outfit while Warriors continue to oscillate between brilliant and mediocrity.
One day, the champions routed Power 91-65 then lost to Nkumba Marines 56-54 even if that partly had a lot to do with the injury to talisman Ronnie Kasewu.
One day, the champions routed Power 91-65 then lost to Nkumba Marines 56-54 even if that partly had a lot to do with the injury to talisman Ronnie Kasewu.
The bigger problem is that they haven’t played well in the second round like they did towards the end of the first, losing three for their record to plummet from 9-2 to 13-5.
Coach Nicholas Natuhereza’s side were one of only two teams, the other being City Oilers, to beat Warriors in the first round, the final score ending 63-58. “Of course, it’s good to beat the champions if we can. It helps with our confidence,” Cyrus Kiviri, a Warrior last season, said.Back then Warriors didn’t seem ready to play as Sudi Ulanga top scored with 20 points for UCU and anything short of a gallant effort could leave the champions on to a top four slot.
Elsewhere, Ndejje University Angels continued to enhance their role as kingmakers with an 82-73 win over record champions Falcons on Wednesday night at YMCA court.
Ndejje, now 12-5, are level with Oilers above them in fourth, have already beaten Warriors and UCU. They still have to play the latter, Oilers and Power. Their latest result almost condemns Falcons to seventh which implies a quarterfinal match up with either UCU or Power.
Ndejje, now 12-5, are level with Oilers above them in fourth, have already beaten Warriors and UCU. They still have to play the latter, Oilers and Power. Their latest result almost condemns Falcons to seventh which implies a quarterfinal match up with either UCU or Power.
TODAY IN LUGOGO
M: UCU vs. Warriors (8.30pm)
W: KIU vs. KCCA (6.30pm)
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
MEN: Falcons 73-82 Ndejje
WOMEN: Mak Sparks 32-70 UCU
M: UCU vs. Warriors (8.30pm)
W: KIU vs. KCCA (6.30pm)
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
MEN: Falcons 73-82 Ndejje
WOMEN: Mak Sparks 32-70 UCU
RWANDA : KBC eyes unbeaten 2nd round
Former national basketball league champions, Kigali basketball club (KBC) will be hoping to build on last weekend’s win over Rusizi when they host United Generation basketball (UGB) at Amahoro indoor stadium today starting at 7pm.
The 2011 winners lost two first games against reigning champions and still unbeaten Espoir as well as third-placed Rusuzi, but are keen to finish the second round unbeaten after overcoming Rusizi last Sunday 88-81.
KBC, coached by Cyrille Kalima, are currently in second place, two points behind Espoir, but level on points on 12 with Rusizi and fourth-placed APR BBC.
“We are currently in a good state, all players are on form and they are mentally prepared for the title race, with our current form, I feel we can beat any team in the league,” Kalima told Times Sport yesterday by phone.
He noted, “Losing those two games in the first round somehow dented our (title) hopes but we’ll never give up until the last game of the season, because you never know Espoir could also slip-up, so we need to keep winning our games.”
KBC have two games this weekend, first against second from bottom side United Generation Basketball this evening and with army side, APR on Sunday.
In women’s league, this year’s Gisembe Memorial tournament winners Ubumwe basketball club will facing-off defending champions APR on Saturday and Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP) on Sunday.
The 2011 winners lost two first games against reigning champions and still unbeaten Espoir as well as third-placed Rusuzi, but are keen to finish the second round unbeaten after overcoming Rusizi last Sunday 88-81.
KBC, coached by Cyrille Kalima, are currently in second place, two points behind Espoir, but level on points on 12 with Rusizi and fourth-placed APR BBC.
“We are currently in a good state, all players are on form and they are mentally prepared for the title race, with our current form, I feel we can beat any team in the league,” Kalima told Times Sport yesterday by phone.
He noted, “Losing those two games in the first round somehow dented our (title) hopes but we’ll never give up until the last game of the season, because you never know Espoir could also slip-up, so we need to keep winning our games.”
KBC have two games this weekend, first against second from bottom side United Generation Basketball this evening and with army side, APR on Sunday.
In women’s league, this year’s Gisembe Memorial tournament winners Ubumwe basketball club will facing-off defending champions APR on Saturday and Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP) on Sunday.
19 September 2013
UGANDA : Soro stars as Ndejje bring down Falcons
After being square in the opening quarter, Ndejje blew the game open in the second. Falcons (9-9) chipped away in the third to cut lead to 5 points going into the fourth quarter where they lost it in the waning minutes when getting possession through fouling didn’t pull off as Brian Odur was perfect from the line.
Brian Odur scored 14 points as Angels (12-5) posted a third straight win. Brian Sentongo and Jonah Otim contributed 12 points apiece.
Point guard, Abdulahi Ramadhani who tried to make things happen for Falcons scored team high 17 points against game high 11 turnovers. Big man, Philip Ameny matched team high points to go with game high 10 boards and hammered it down for the only real highlight of an insipid game.
Meanwhile UCU Lady Canons continued their dominance of the women’s division with a 70-32 win over MUK Sparks.
Peace Proscovia scored game high 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way for Lady Canons. Moreen Amoding and Franceas Nabulobi added 12 points each.
Joy Chemtai scored 15 points to lead Sparks and Winnie Anyango had 7 points
18 September 2013
ZIMBABWE : Air Force Falcons, UZ Stars Promoted
AIR FORCE Falcons and UZ Stars have been promoted into the Harare Basketball A league after emerging the top two teams at the play-offs at Richwood Park on Saturday. The matches saw Air Force Falcons, UZ Stars and Platinum Ballers competing for the two slots into the A league where they will join 10 other teams for the forthcoming season. In their opening match, UZ Stars beat Air Force Falcons 56-45 before they defeated Platinum Ballers 56-49 to finish on top of the table as they won both their matches.
After losing to UZ Stars, Air Force Falcons put their act together and overpowered Platinum Ballers 50-41. The victory saw them securing their place in the A league.
The play-offs came after the Harare Basketball Association decided to have one league for the 2013 to 2014 season unlike last year, when they had two conferences running at the same time.
After losing to UZ Stars, Air Force Falcons put their act together and overpowered Platinum Ballers 50-41. The victory saw them securing their place in the A league.
The play-offs came after the Harare Basketball Association decided to have one league for the 2013 to 2014 season unlike last year, when they had two conferences running at the same time.
NIGERIA : 'D'Tigress Ready for 2013 Women Afrobasket Championship'
Coach Scott Nnaji of the national senior women basketball team yesterday assured that the team was ready to participate in the 2013 Women Afrobasket Championship billed for Mozambique.
Nnaji said in Abuja after the team rounded up its training ahead of departure that the team had grown stronger by the day.
The team will participate in the 2013 African Women Basketball Championship, tagged "Women Afrobasket Championship" and scheduled for Sept. 20 to Sept. 26 in Maputo, Mozambique.
"We are getting stronger and getting to understand each other by the day and we will make sure that, by the time we play our first match at the competition, we will understand ourselves more.
"Though I have not seen the other teams but I am sure that our will to perform is what is carrying us on," Nnaji said.
The coach of the two-time Women Afrobasket winners, who are also known as 'D'Tigress', assured that the team would not overrate or underrate any team.
"We will rather play at our best. In addition, we are not rating any team too high, we only believe in the strength that we have. We will do our best, and we believe that our best will see us through.
"When you start thinking of some teams as being exceptionally good, you will begin to undermine what you have in your team.
"As for us, we will look at everybody as an opponent and we won't rate some bigger than the others," he said.
Nnaji said his team would put it in mind that every team it meets was the same so as to be able to play to its best.
"If you relax your mind that this is a big team or a small team, you might end up getting surprised by the smaller teams. So, we rate every team as the same.
Nnaji said in Abuja after the team rounded up its training ahead of departure that the team had grown stronger by the day.
The team will participate in the 2013 African Women Basketball Championship, tagged "Women Afrobasket Championship" and scheduled for Sept. 20 to Sept. 26 in Maputo, Mozambique.
"We are getting stronger and getting to understand each other by the day and we will make sure that, by the time we play our first match at the competition, we will understand ourselves more.
"Though I have not seen the other teams but I am sure that our will to perform is what is carrying us on," Nnaji said.
The coach of the two-time Women Afrobasket winners, who are also known as 'D'Tigress', assured that the team would not overrate or underrate any team.
"We will rather play at our best. In addition, we are not rating any team too high, we only believe in the strength that we have. We will do our best, and we believe that our best will see us through.
"When you start thinking of some teams as being exceptionally good, you will begin to undermine what you have in your team.
"As for us, we will look at everybody as an opponent and we won't rate some bigger than the others," he said.
Nnaji said his team would put it in mind that every team it meets was the same so as to be able to play to its best.
"If you relax your mind that this is a big team or a small team, you might end up getting surprised by the smaller teams. So, we rate every team as the same.
UGANDA : Omony demands more, Falcons pursue Ndejje
Kampala
TODAY AT YMCA
M: Falcons vs. Ndejje (8.30pm)
W: Mak Sparks vs. UCU (6.30pm)
W: Mak Sparks vs. UCU (6.30pm)
Two wins in two games and Falcons are now looking like a team that might just finish higher than the seventh place they have held for most of the season.
Victories over City Oilers and Charging Rhino, fourth and eighth respectively, have lifted some of the gloom on the record champions as they have now won nine of their 17 games. Today, they face Ndejje University, the only team in the top six of the Airtel National Basketball League Falcons managed to beat during a torrid first round. Ndejje currently lie fifth with an 11-5 win-loss record, sixth-placed KIU Titans are 10-6 and Falcons in seventh at 9-8 with the trio still to face one another.
One thing the six-time champions are guaranteed is a tough opponent in the playoff quarterfinals. They will face a side in the top four, especially teams that lie between second and fourth. UCU Canons, 15-2, champions Riham Warriors (13-5) and Oilers (12-5) are the current possibilities though there is still a lot to be decided over the next four weeks.
“We need to get back to where we belong. We have played at that high level many times before,” Falcons’ Stephen Omony said. “This is the beginning so we shouldn’t be too excited.” Coach Walker Obedi’s Ndejje is as plucky a side as any Falcons will meet. Motivation cannot be in short supply for Ndejje. A win would lift them into the top four.
17 September 2013
ZAMBIA : Pacers Maintain Pace
Eagles 55 Pacers 60
UNZA Pacers opened up a two-point lead at the summit of the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) south league table after beating Green Eagles during the Week 10 fixtures played at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) in Lusaka.
Pacers, who have played 10 games, moved up to 18 points with Matero Magic moving into second position following a 73-67 win over Kabwe Legends.
LCC Looters, who were out of action, dropped to third place on 15 points while Eagles were relegated to fourth position, also on 16 points.
Napsa Hurricanes were the biggest winners in the Masculine A League, edging Heroes Play United 83-63 to move to 14 points where they were joined by Green Buffaloes, who beat Mazabuka Comets 80-53.
Spartans maintained top slot in the Masculine B league, winning two of their matches played against ZCAS Blazers 64-54 and Junior Looters 73-59 to go up to 22 points.
Looters recovered well in the other game beating Buffaloes 61-54 to move to 20 points.
It was a bad day for Blazers as they suffered another defeat this time around to Magic, losing 61-59 while other results saw Chinzam Dragons beaten 58-25 by Lusaka Rockets, Evelyn Hone College Nishati Denvers were 62-60 winners over Junior Hurricanes.
Earthrow Bull Dogs beat Pacers 46-35 as Chinzam Dragons were given a humiliating 99-21 defeat by Intrepid Bulls with Pacers recording a second defeat after a 20-0 defeat to Lusaka Rockets while Nkwazi lost 77-82 to Hurricanes.
In the Feminine league, Buffaloes took over leadership after supplanting LCC Looters from the top of the table with a 65-52 victory to surge to 15 points while the latter are on 15 points. Shells, who were out of action, are third.
UNZA Honeys moved to 12 points after thumping Hot Spurs 60-32 and there was victory for Napsa Breeze who recorded a 61-23 bashing over Spartress.
UNZA Pacers opened up a two-point lead at the summit of the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) south league table after beating Green Eagles during the Week 10 fixtures played at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) in Lusaka.
Pacers, who have played 10 games, moved up to 18 points with Matero Magic moving into second position following a 73-67 win over Kabwe Legends.
LCC Looters, who were out of action, dropped to third place on 15 points while Eagles were relegated to fourth position, also on 16 points.
Napsa Hurricanes were the biggest winners in the Masculine A League, edging Heroes Play United 83-63 to move to 14 points where they were joined by Green Buffaloes, who beat Mazabuka Comets 80-53.
Spartans maintained top slot in the Masculine B league, winning two of their matches played against ZCAS Blazers 64-54 and Junior Looters 73-59 to go up to 22 points.
Looters recovered well in the other game beating Buffaloes 61-54 to move to 20 points.
It was a bad day for Blazers as they suffered another defeat this time around to Magic, losing 61-59 while other results saw Chinzam Dragons beaten 58-25 by Lusaka Rockets, Evelyn Hone College Nishati Denvers were 62-60 winners over Junior Hurricanes.
Earthrow Bull Dogs beat Pacers 46-35 as Chinzam Dragons were given a humiliating 99-21 defeat by Intrepid Bulls with Pacers recording a second defeat after a 20-0 defeat to Lusaka Rockets while Nkwazi lost 77-82 to Hurricanes.
In the Feminine league, Buffaloes took over leadership after supplanting LCC Looters from the top of the table with a 65-52 victory to surge to 15 points while the latter are on 15 points. Shells, who were out of action, are third.
UNZA Honeys moved to 12 points after thumping Hot Spurs 60-32 and there was victory for Napsa Breeze who recorded a 61-23 bashing over Spartress.
RWANDA : APR have fallen behind key rivals, admits coach
Cliff Owuor (R) has admitted that APR has fallen behind archrivals Espoir but remains hopeful that will change sooner than later. Times Sport / P. Muzogeye.
APR will struggle to flex muscles with its major rivals, more particularly champions Espoir, in the national basketball league this season, its coach Cliff Owuor has conceded.
The 43-year-old Kenyan tactician says the national league is by far more competitive than in the past.
Owuor has coached APR men basketball team since 2006 guiding them to four consecutive league titles before seeing Kigali Basketball club (KBC) win the 2011 league and then Espoir in 2012
And even after beating second-placed Rusizi 75-48 in their first game of the second round at the weekend, Owuor reckons his is a team for the future.
“I am not under pressure to win the league title because my team is still young, we are still in the rebuilding process; nonetheless we will be in position to fight for the title after this season,” the former Kenyan international told Times Sport on Monday.
During the Saturday game, APR’s Sunny Munyandamutsa and Rafiki Mouhamed scored 15 points each to help the military side move into second spot alongside Rusizi and KCB.
APR won the first quarter 17-12 and the second 39-15.
Rusizi, who prior to the game had only lost once – to champions Espoir – in the first round, tried to bounce back in the third quarter which they closely won 19-18.
However, Owuor’s boys regrouped to claim the fourth quarter 18-14, subsequently wrapping up the game 75-48.
After the victory, a seemingly relieved Owuor said, “I am happy we have won but we need to work harder because we are yet to get to where we want to be and the players know it.
Espoir, unbeaten in the league since the start of last season, lead the table with 14 points after seven games and are tipped to retain the regular season title.
CSK are in fourth position with 10 points; two ahead of fifth-placed United Generation Basketball (UGB) while 30-Plus are bottom with six pts.
Rusizi coach Marc Tunga, whose team lost 88-81 to KCB on Sunday, said, “It’s a big disappointment to lose two back to back games, but we need to put it aside and focus on the next games, we need stay focused.”
On Friday, Espoir beat former champions CSK 89-48 to edge closer to retaining their title. Jean Bahufite’s side dominated all four quarters; 18-8, 21-13, 19-1 and 31-8.
UGANDA : Comeback 'Kid' Obol Hogs Limelight
SAM Obol is far from the player who helped the Falcons win four championships between 2002 and 2007. But time and a lack of fitness have not taken away the steely determination and mature basketball head that made the guard 2003 national basketball MVP.
Those are timeless aspects, which on Sunday at the YMCA helped Obol score a game-high 12 points as the Falcons defeated the Charging Rhinos 71-48 in the Airtel National Basketball League.
Obol is attempting to revive his playing career with the Falcons, having been on and off in recent seasons. The guard held a coaching role with the team this season but that did not last long and he is now back playing, a fact partly been necessitated by the departure of starting point guard Geoff Omondi.
This game was Obol's most productive of his comeback yet, as he also managed a team-high 30 minutes playing-time. Peter Elungant added 11 points for the Falcons, who lost the first quarter 16-14 but controlled the rest of the contest to win successive matches for the first time in three months.
Joseph Bongomin with nine points was Rhinos top-scorer.
Meanwhile, Collin Mukiza, Ivan Enabu and Andre Okot nailed 18, 14 and 11 points respectively as reigning champions Riham Warriors thumped relegation-bound Miracle Eagles 63-32. Abraham Isyagi sunk a team-high 17 points for Miracle.
Also, Brian Odour, Geoffrey Soro and Brian Ssentongo bagged 16, 15 and 12 points respectively to lead Ndejje University Angels to a 72-51 win over the Proline Heaters.
The Heaters, now virtually condemned to the drop, were led by Javan Odhiambo and Adam Kakuru with 19 and 12 points respectively.
Airtel National Basketball League:
Women
KCCA 79 Sparks 28
A1 67 Nabisunsa 32
Men
Falcons 71 Rhinos 48
Warriors 63 Miracle 32
Ndejje 72 Heaters 51
Those are timeless aspects, which on Sunday at the YMCA helped Obol score a game-high 12 points as the Falcons defeated the Charging Rhinos 71-48 in the Airtel National Basketball League.
Obol is attempting to revive his playing career with the Falcons, having been on and off in recent seasons. The guard held a coaching role with the team this season but that did not last long and he is now back playing, a fact partly been necessitated by the departure of starting point guard Geoff Omondi.
This game was Obol's most productive of his comeback yet, as he also managed a team-high 30 minutes playing-time. Peter Elungant added 11 points for the Falcons, who lost the first quarter 16-14 but controlled the rest of the contest to win successive matches for the first time in three months.
Joseph Bongomin with nine points was Rhinos top-scorer.
Meanwhile, Collin Mukiza, Ivan Enabu and Andre Okot nailed 18, 14 and 11 points respectively as reigning champions Riham Warriors thumped relegation-bound Miracle Eagles 63-32. Abraham Isyagi sunk a team-high 17 points for Miracle.
Also, Brian Odour, Geoffrey Soro and Brian Ssentongo bagged 16, 15 and 12 points respectively to lead Ndejje University Angels to a 72-51 win over the Proline Heaters.
The Heaters, now virtually condemned to the drop, were led by Javan Odhiambo and Adam Kakuru with 19 and 12 points respectively.
Airtel National Basketball League:
Women
KCCA 79 Sparks 28
A1 67 Nabisunsa 32
Men
Falcons 71 Rhinos 48
Warriors 63 Miracle 32
Ndejje 72 Heaters 51
16 September 2013
KENYA : Eagle Wings make it double as Flames stage comeback
Updated on 16/09/13 | By NOEL ROBERT
Defending champions Eagle Wings made it a double win over the weekend bringing to a halt Strathmore Swords winning streak with a deserved 63-31 win over the students.
Keen to avoid any upset, Eagle Wings controlled the game from onset winning the first quarter 16-6 followed by a 15-9 win in the second.
The students were made to wait for close to six minutes into the third quarter to bury any basket against wings who were now bullying them on the board and on the floor.
The third quarter was again tilted in eagle Wings’ favor with a 17-3 win that was summed up with a 16-13 win, the highest Swords got into the game, thanks to a sharp-shooting Tanya Ogwel.
Angela Okoth hit 16 points for the winners while Swords’’ Manuela Biel had 11.
In an earlier game, USIU Flames led by guard Cynthia Irankunda staged a superb second half display to avoid a second loss of the weekend beating Storms 69-54. The high scoring game was evenly contested in the first half with a 14 ups tie in the first quarter before Storms took a narrow 13-14 in the second quarter heading for the halftime break.
Flames then assembled themselves for a battle in the third quarter ripping Storms defense with passes from Irankunda that were rewarded by easy layups by her teammates to snatch the third quarter from Storms who were also hungry for a win at 23-15.
Storms were to be on the receiving end again in the final quarter soaking in 19 points with a reply of 11 to give the students a fifteen-point win.
Irankunda and Hilda Indasi nailed 14 and 12 points respectively while Storms duo of Susan Akinyi and Linnet Mukiri replied with 12 each
Keen to avoid any upset, Eagle Wings controlled the game from onset winning the first quarter 16-6 followed by a 15-9 win in the second.
The students were made to wait for close to six minutes into the third quarter to bury any basket against wings who were now bullying them on the board and on the floor.
The third quarter was again tilted in eagle Wings’ favor with a 17-3 win that was summed up with a 16-13 win, the highest Swords got into the game, thanks to a sharp-shooting Tanya Ogwel.
Angela Okoth hit 16 points for the winners while Swords’’ Manuela Biel had 11.
In an earlier game, USIU Flames led by guard Cynthia Irankunda staged a superb second half display to avoid a second loss of the weekend beating Storms 69-54. The high scoring game was evenly contested in the first half with a 14 ups tie in the first quarter before Storms took a narrow 13-14 in the second quarter heading for the halftime break.
Flames then assembled themselves for a battle in the third quarter ripping Storms defense with passes from Irankunda that were rewarded by easy layups by her teammates to snatch the third quarter from Storms who were also hungry for a win at 23-15.
Storms were to be on the receiving end again in the final quarter soaking in 19 points with a reply of 11 to give the students a fifteen-point win.
Irankunda and Hilda Indasi nailed 14 and 12 points respectively while Storms duo of Susan Akinyi and Linnet Mukiri replied with 12 each
ZAMBIA : Stringers Close in On Cavs
YMCA 38 CBU 34
YMCA Stringers at the weekend produced a superb display to subdue Copperbelt University (CBU) Comets 38-a34 in a Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) northern region league week eight fixture.
With leaders CEC Cavs and second-placed Lunga Bullets not in action, the games played at Konkola Basketball Courts in Chililabombwe saw YMCA moving within a point of the Cavs and drew level on 15 games with Bullets.
Comets, who have three games in hand, remained third from bottom with seven points after the weekend fixtures played.
Konkola trotters extended their unbeaten run to six successive wins after outclassing Konkola Heat 68-18 to extend their lead to 12 points on the league B table as Mufulira Magnets kept chase for the top slot beating CEC Blazers 53-41 to accumulate 11 points after six games.
Konkola Heat squandered an opportunity to redeem their poor showing earlier against Trotters as they went on to suffer another defeat at the hands of Nchanga Haulpaks losing 45-32 and moved a place up from the bottom of the table.
In the feminine league, CEC Queens continued to cause havoc on its opponents as they recorded a resounding 74-22 victory over CBU Robins to consolidate their lead with eight points after four games.
Mufulira Saints beat struggling Konkola Angeles to close in on CEC Queens but drew level on five points with the Robins.
YMCA Stringers at the weekend produced a superb display to subdue Copperbelt University (CBU) Comets 38-a34 in a Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) northern region league week eight fixture.
With leaders CEC Cavs and second-placed Lunga Bullets not in action, the games played at Konkola Basketball Courts in Chililabombwe saw YMCA moving within a point of the Cavs and drew level on 15 games with Bullets.
Comets, who have three games in hand, remained third from bottom with seven points after the weekend fixtures played.
Konkola trotters extended their unbeaten run to six successive wins after outclassing Konkola Heat 68-18 to extend their lead to 12 points on the league B table as Mufulira Magnets kept chase for the top slot beating CEC Blazers 53-41 to accumulate 11 points after six games.
Konkola Heat squandered an opportunity to redeem their poor showing earlier against Trotters as they went on to suffer another defeat at the hands of Nchanga Haulpaks losing 45-32 and moved a place up from the bottom of the table.
In the feminine league, CEC Queens continued to cause havoc on its opponents as they recorded a resounding 74-22 victory over CBU Robins to consolidate their lead with eight points after four games.
Mufulira Saints beat struggling Konkola Angeles to close in on CEC Queens but drew level on five points with the Robins.
SEYCHELLES : National League: Hawks repeat as men’s champs
There was no champagne bath for the players to celebrate the win, but PLS Hawks brought champagne basketball to Victoria Gymnasium on Saturday as they marched over Beau Vallon Heat who could not move mountains for a fairytale finish.
The Hawks reached the century mark in a 100-60 win in the decisive match to claim a fifth consecutive league division one title, but before that Praslin Warriors put the icing on the cake as they powered past Anse Etoile 95-52 to win the league division two title and promotion to the top flight.
Beau Vallon Heat 60 ... PLS Hawks 100
What a pleasant way to end the men’s division one league campaign – champagne basketball played by the Hawks, with an appreciative crowd lapping it up in a party atmosphere as some spectators, including one sporting a blue wig, danced as drums and other instruments were being played.
Hawks were out on a mission: Stop Beau Vallon Heat from becoming the first team to win the championship title in only their first year in the top flight.
Last year’s second division winners Heat had been boasting all season long that they have been moving mountains and no one could say the least as they ended the first round of the championship unbeaten in eight games, but struggled in the second when they suffered three defeats before Saturday’s decider.
As for the Hawks, they had lost two games, including one against the Heat, in the first round, but had remained unbeaten in the second until Saturday’s encounter.
It all came down to one game – Saturday’s decider. A win for the Hawks would see them win the title with 30 points, but a win for the Heat would mean the two teams would finish the championship equal on points – 29 – and the Heat would win the title on the head-to-head rule.
The big crowd knew they were in for a treat when the Heat went head to head with the Hawks in the winner-takes-all game to determine the 2013 league champions.
In the end it did not turn out to be a thriller like most of the basketball lovers thought as the Hawks, whose centre Rodney Lozé was too much for the Heat defence with his game-leading 33-point performance, pummeled their opponents 100-60. Score by quarters: 22-8, 24-9, 28-15 and 26-28.
With a poor bench, and their outside and free-throw shooting not falling, the Heat, whose cheerleaders tried to keep up the spirit behind the team’s bench despite the big gap, had to accept defeat against a more experienced Hawks.
Speaking to Sports Nation, coach Guy Hall accepted that the Hawks were too strong for his team whom he said were 40 points from winning the championship in only their first season up with the big guns.
“Hawks overpowered us today (Saturday), but I’m proud with my team who fought for the first division championship title only one year after winning the second division crown. This is a real achievement, but in the end I feel the nerves got to the players in their first title decider at this level. We accept defeat and understand that we have to work harder next year to close the gap. We also need to beef up our bench,” said coach Hall who ran out of ammunition against the Hawks who were firing on all cylinders.
In his element on Saturday, centre Lozé, who scored his team’s 100th point and even gifted the Heat two points as the final seconds ticked away, said they had prepared for the decider.
“We were predicting a big win and knew we would win by a huge margin. It’s just amazing and now we will work on defending the SBF Cup and also on making a good impression at the Indian Ocean Club Championship tourney,” said Lozé who got help from Nigerian Alao Solomon with 20 points.
With their big men doing a good job in the paint, PLS Hawks claimed their fifth men’s division one league title in a row, bringing their tally to nine in 14 years since the introduction of clubs in 1993. They have previously won the title in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Despite not shooting well, Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Camille led the Heat in scoring with 18 points, while Christopher ‘Toto’ Camille (16) and centre Robert Léon (14) combined for 30 points.
Anse Etoile 52 … Praslin Warriors 95
Jackson Auguste was instrumental for Praslin Warriors, scoring a game-high 30 points in a 95-52 win that guaranteed them first place in the men’s second division league and promotion to the top flight next year.
“We are ready and looking forward to playing top flight basketball next season. Although it’s difficult for us to recruit players from Mahé, we will try our best to play hard,” said Auguste.
Captain J. Souffe added 19 points for the Warriors who won the championship ahead of Cascade Bullets who were counting on Anse Etoile to do them a favour.
Meanwhile, women’s champions Anse Etoile Stars finished the three-round league unbeaten and their ninth win came against Mont Fleuri on a 55-42 score on Saturday.
G. G.
RWANDA : Poor second round start for Rusizi in Basketball league
RUSIZI had a disappointing weekend after losing to rivals APR and KBC in the national basketball league second round games on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The Western Province-based team, who prior to this weekend, had lost just once to the champions, Espoir in the first round, made a miserable start to the second round by losing 75-48 to APR on Saturday and 88-81 to Kigali Basketball Club on Sunday.
“It is very disappointing to lose both games that we shouldn’t have lost, but that is the nature of the sport and we just need to take the two defeats on the chin and look forward to the next match,” Rusizi BBC president Jean Pierre Gashema told this paper yesterday.
Up next for the second-placed Rusizi are must-win games against two struggling sides 30-Plus and United Generation basketball (UGB) on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Unbeaten Espoir lead the table with 14 points, one ahead of Rusizi, while KBC are third with 12 points, CSK and APR are fourth and fifth with 11 and 10 points respectively
The Western Province-based team, who prior to this weekend, had lost just once to the champions, Espoir in the first round, made a miserable start to the second round by losing 75-48 to APR on Saturday and 88-81 to Kigali Basketball Club on Sunday.
“It is very disappointing to lose both games that we shouldn’t have lost, but that is the nature of the sport and we just need to take the two defeats on the chin and look forward to the next match,” Rusizi BBC president Jean Pierre Gashema told this paper yesterday.
Up next for the second-placed Rusizi are must-win games against two struggling sides 30-Plus and United Generation basketball (UGB) on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Unbeaten Espoir lead the table with 14 points, one ahead of Rusizi, while KBC are third with 12 points, CSK and APR are fourth and fifth with 11 and 10 points respectively
15 September 2013
KENYA : Ulinzi Warriors strike Thunder
Updated on 15/09/13 | By NOEL ROBERT
The return of Victor Odendo to Ulinzi Warriors side added more grip on the soldiers defense that came handy in helping them strike Thunder 66-55, a game the soldiers dominated in the second quarter to stamp their control over Thunder.
Ulinzi won the first quarter 16-12 before bottling Thunder in the second quarter winning it out 21-10. Thunder's attempted to rally from behind to pull a shocker on the soldiers who seemed to have their defensive game back, but their efforts were each time watered down by the soldiers who controlled the game despite losing the third quarter 15-17.
Thunder staged little fight in the final quarter slowing down the game with several fouls hoping that guards Dan Okwiri and Griffin Ligare would drill three point shots but neither seemed to have his touch outside the arch. Ulinzi still lost the quarter a narrow 13-14, an insignificant score to settle the final tally.
Victor Odendo led the soldiers’ onslaught with 13 points while guard Ligare had a low 8 points for his side.
The final game, a repeat of last year's finals turned out to be a one-sided affair with defending champions COOP Bank beating USIU 58-36 dominating the entire game. COOP Bank drew the first blood in the game that was expected to be charged with Allan Ouma's back to back shots within the perimeter whose response was a three point shot from Chris Mulumba.
COOP went ahead to win the first quarter 17-14 and the second 13-5. Tigers' defensive prowess was on the spot in the second quarter failing to contest shots from COOP besides being bullied on the board.
COOP Bank extended their dominance over the varsity side that showed urgency, to stage a come-back stretching their lead with a 14-8 win in the third quarter followed by 14-9 in the final quarter to the upset of fans who anticipated the affair to be closely contested.
Bankers' duo of James Mwangi and Allan Ouma had 10 and 8 points respectively while Tigers' Yonny Wanambiro and Chris Mulumba responded with 5 and 7 points each.
Ulinzi won the first quarter 16-12 before bottling Thunder in the second quarter winning it out 21-10. Thunder's attempted to rally from behind to pull a shocker on the soldiers who seemed to have their defensive game back, but their efforts were each time watered down by the soldiers who controlled the game despite losing the third quarter 15-17.
Thunder staged little fight in the final quarter slowing down the game with several fouls hoping that guards Dan Okwiri and Griffin Ligare would drill three point shots but neither seemed to have his touch outside the arch. Ulinzi still lost the quarter a narrow 13-14, an insignificant score to settle the final tally.
Victor Odendo led the soldiers’ onslaught with 13 points while guard Ligare had a low 8 points for his side.
The final game, a repeat of last year's finals turned out to be a one-sided affair with defending champions COOP Bank beating USIU 58-36 dominating the entire game. COOP Bank drew the first blood in the game that was expected to be charged with Allan Ouma's back to back shots within the perimeter whose response was a three point shot from Chris Mulumba.
COOP went ahead to win the first quarter 17-14 and the second 13-5. Tigers' defensive prowess was on the spot in the second quarter failing to contest shots from COOP besides being bullied on the board.
COOP Bank extended their dominance over the varsity side that showed urgency, to stage a come-back stretching their lead with a 14-8 win in the third quarter followed by 14-9 in the final quarter to the upset of fans who anticipated the affair to be closely contested.
Bankers' duo of James Mwangi and Allan Ouma had 10 and 8 points respectively while Tigers' Yonny Wanambiro and Chris Mulumba responded with 5 and 7 points each.
KENYA : Late 3-pointer helps Strathmore sink Co-op Bank
Ulinzi Warriors in a past match against Blazers. They beat Thunder on Saturday.(Photo by Shutterspeed)
Manuela Biel's three pointer enabled Strathmore University edge out league leaders, Co-operative Bank 39-37 in the women’s Kenya Basketbal Federation premier league match played on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
The students were trailing by a point with only twenty seconds of play remaining and it appeared the bankers had carried the day. However, Biel positioned herself well outside the three-pointer line after receiving the ball from captain Denise Apondi to sink the winning shot.
The match was characterized by close play bringing out the fighting spirit and caution from the two teams which are among the top title contenders. Strathmore University narrowly led 16-15 at halftime and the margin was sustained throughout the game in a match that could qualify to be the tightest so far this season.
Biel top scored for the students with 14 points while Melissa Akinyi had 10. Catherine Etyang and Linda Alando scored the highest points for the bankers with eight each. Strathmore won the first quarter 11-8 and Co-op Bank the second 7-5 going to the breather. The students snatched home the third quarter 10-8 as the bankers won the fourth 14-13 in a well balanced match.
Eagle Wings dominated from the beginning to the end as they overran United States International University- Africa, (USIU-A), 61-48.
Eagle Wings showed great patience on the ball which gifted them the biggest chunk of possession. USIU-A relied too much on Emma Nyakweba who only managed a basket the whole match eclipsing the aggressive Hilda Indasi.
Shani stars for Eagle Wings
Silalei Shani had key blocks for Eagle Wings who opened the lead as early as the fourth minute with the scores reading 9-4 in their favour. On the offensive, the champions switched severally forcing the students to give away many fouls.
Eagle Wings won all the quarters 14-12, 18-12, 13-12 and 16-12. Indasi scored a game-high of 20 points for USIU-A while Vilma Achieng registered 10 for Eagle Wings. Shani and Rose Ouma had nine points each for the champions.
In the men’s premier, champions Co-operative Bank bounced back from their loss to Strathmore University last weekend with a comfortable 58-36 win over USIU-A. The students fell out of contention as early as the second quarter after the bankers opened up an unassailable lead.
With 17-14 and 13-5 wins in the first two quarters, Co-op Bank proved superior of the two sides scoring baskets at will. Captain Brian Busu started off poorly prompting head coach Carey Odhiambo to rest him in the second quarter.
The bankers completed their rout with 14-8 and 14-9 wins in the third and fourth quarters respectively. James Mwangi top scored for Co-op Bank with 10 points and Christian Mulumba had seven for USIU-A.
Bad day for Thunder
Early pacesetters Thunder had a bad day in office falling 55-66 to Ulinzi Warriors. The soldiers played a more physical game conceding many shooting fouls but the inaccuracy of Thunder at the free-throw line saved the day for Ulinzi. In total, Ulinzi had 20 team fouls compared to Thunder’s nine.
Ulinzi won the first two quarters 16-12 and 21-10 while Thunder roared in the remaining two winning 17-15 and 16-14. Victor Odendo scored 16 points for Ulinzi and Alen Dhol 12 for Thunder.
Kenya Ports Authority, KPA, had a fruitful day at Makande gymnasium seeing off Mennonite in both men’s and women’s leagues. In the women premier league, they overpowered their Nairobi opponents 73-11 while their male counterparts registered a 62-43 win.
Collated Results: Parklands Baptist 59 Strathmore University 74, World Hope 52 KAA 65, Strathmore University 39 Co-op Bank 37, Ulinzi 66 Thunder 55, USIU-A Flames 48 Eagle Wings 61, Co-op Bank 58 USIU-A Tigers 36, KPA 73 Mennonite 11 (women), KPA 62 Mennonite 43 (men).
