12 October 2013
UGANDA : Bittersweet Friday for UCU in the National Basketball League
UCU Canons 70-71 Dmark Power
KIU Rangers 52-68 UCU Lady Canons
A physical and desperate game with top spot implications that came down to the final seconds brought out the best in David Kiberu. The center scored team and season high 25 points and helped Dmark Power beat UCU Canons 71-70 Friday night at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
“There was no way we were going to lose this game” a straight faced Isaac Afidra told Kawowo Sports.
UCU trailing 63-67 with 1:55 to the final buzzer, Sudi Ulanga was sent to the line and drained all the three shots to pull Canons within 66-67. Power called for a timeout and was followed by a jumper from Kiberu. Syrus Kiviiri responded with a pair of free throws then Kiberu restored Power’s 3 points lead on another jumper with 55 seconds to play. Kiviiri answered with another pair of throws 37 seconds later to pull UCU within 70-71.
A timeout was called by Power, on return they were forced to cough up the ball and Ivan Lumanyika threaded a pass to Kiviiri for breakaway but was pushed out by Paul Mwaka. UCU called for time out with 13 seconds. On return Kiviiri drove into a forest of hands and Power held on for the win. “He played as instructed. He had to get a shot off and if not drive in to draw a foul and i think he got fouled on the drive but the foul was not called” UCC’s coach Nicholas Natuhereza said of Kiviiri’s final play.
Kiviiri who pitched 17 points thinks he should have been sent to the line. “To draw a foul is what was on my mind and i was fouled on the drive” he said.
Afidra believes they didn’t foul. “It is something we were told in the timeout. Put hands up and no one should foul and we didn’t foul” he said.
Much as UCU won the contest on the glass 33-25 led by Brian Namake’s 12 rebounds and limited themselves to a season best 8 turnovers, they didn’t have significant momentum. “It is more than those final seconds. I think we had lapses and we were never in charge of this game” Natuhereza said.
UCU Shooting guard, Sudi Ulanga poured in game high 29 points in a losing effort to match his season high dropped in the 101-91 win over Falcons in June.
Power’s point guard, Ben Komakech scored 15 points and dished out 7 assists. Joseph Ikong had 11 points and handed out 5 helpers.
Meanwhile in the women’s division UCU Lady Canons completed the regular season unbeaten following their 68-52 win over KIU Rangers.
Peace Proscovia scored game high 22 points and picked 10 rebounds to lead the way for Lady Canons. Moreen Amoding added 15 points and last season’s most supportive player Peace Nakirijja returned to the team with 10 points.
Forward, Aisha Nakabubi paced Rangers with 17 points and Florence Nanyonga added 11
KIU Rangers 52-68 UCU Lady Canons
A physical and desperate game with top spot implications that came down to the final seconds brought out the best in David Kiberu. The center scored team and season high 25 points and helped Dmark Power beat UCU Canons 71-70 Friday night at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
“There was no way we were going to lose this game” a straight faced Isaac Afidra told Kawowo Sports.
UCU trailing 63-67 with 1:55 to the final buzzer, Sudi Ulanga was sent to the line and drained all the three shots to pull Canons within 66-67. Power called for a timeout and was followed by a jumper from Kiberu. Syrus Kiviiri responded with a pair of free throws then Kiberu restored Power’s 3 points lead on another jumper with 55 seconds to play. Kiviiri answered with another pair of throws 37 seconds later to pull UCU within 70-71.
A timeout was called by Power, on return they were forced to cough up the ball and Ivan Lumanyika threaded a pass to Kiviiri for breakaway but was pushed out by Paul Mwaka. UCU called for time out with 13 seconds. On return Kiviiri drove into a forest of hands and Power held on for the win. “He played as instructed. He had to get a shot off and if not drive in to draw a foul and i think he got fouled on the drive but the foul was not called” UCC’s coach Nicholas Natuhereza said of Kiviiri’s final play.
Kiviiri who pitched 17 points thinks he should have been sent to the line. “To draw a foul is what was on my mind and i was fouled on the drive” he said.
Afidra believes they didn’t foul. “It is something we were told in the timeout. Put hands up and no one should foul and we didn’t foul” he said.
Much as UCU won the contest on the glass 33-25 led by Brian Namake’s 12 rebounds and limited themselves to a season best 8 turnovers, they didn’t have significant momentum. “It is more than those final seconds. I think we had lapses and we were never in charge of this game” Natuhereza said.
UCU Shooting guard, Sudi Ulanga poured in game high 29 points in a losing effort to match his season high dropped in the 101-91 win over Falcons in June.
Power’s point guard, Ben Komakech scored 15 points and dished out 7 assists. Joseph Ikong had 11 points and handed out 5 helpers.
Meanwhile in the women’s division UCU Lady Canons completed the regular season unbeaten following their 68-52 win over KIU Rangers.
Peace Proscovia scored game high 22 points and picked 10 rebounds to lead the way for Lady Canons. Moreen Amoding added 15 points and last season’s most supportive player Peace Nakirijja returned to the team with 10 points.
Forward, Aisha Nakabubi paced Rangers with 17 points and Florence Nanyonga added 11
# posted by afrbk : 17:00
