Basketball in Africa

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