Basketball in Africa

City Oilers Vs Dmark Power 5:30pm (Power lead series 1-0)
Falcons Vs Riham Warriors 7:30pm (Warriors lead series 1-0)
Dmark Power did not have much trouble winning the first game of the best of five playoffs semi finals against City Oilers because of the players being mentally short at least according to according to the team coach Mandy Juruni.
City Oilers did not lose games in succession all through the season and a loss in game 2 at the Lugogo MTN Arena will be the first for the debutants.
“We have always responded well to losses and i am hopeful the guys will. We lost by just 7 points so it is nothing to worry about” Oilers coach Mandy Juruni said after game 1.
The game 1 score looked a bit deceptive as Power dominated the game but some lapse gave Oilers hope in the game and tried to come back something Isaac Afidra thinks Power should not repeat.
“They (lapses) happen a lot but it is something we need to work on. We can’t let it happen again” he said.
Power has let in at least 70 points in each post season game.  Jimmy Enabu may be back for Oilers and may change the whole set up of the game and may be make City Oilers better.
“We approach every game the way it comes and we always want to win every game. They are a obviously a good team and we won’t be complacent in any way” Joseph Ikong told Kawowo Spots
Now, most of the people (if not all) associated with Falcons believe game 1 was gifted to Riham Warriors with all their arguments rotating around Henry Malinga’s and 1. It is something the Falcons’ coach Gad Eteu hoped his team would get over going into the all important second game of the series.
“If we recover mentally we will beat them and we should. We got our selves here (in a must win)” he said after the loss.
Peter Elungat has struggled through the post season. The power forward averaged 3.7 points in 22 minutes against UCU Canons and managed just 4 points in game 1 and Eteu demands him to step up.
“Of course peter has to step up. I have given him a lot of minutes” Eteu said.
It was clear in game 1 that Serge Kabangu (suspended) would probably fair better against Malinga as the veteran dominated the inside. “We miss him but i hoped we win this game (1) and have at least a win before he comes back” Eteu said on Kabangu’s absence.
Meanwhile the defending champions, Warriors return to the Arena with reams of confidence after the all important win.
“We need a better start, move the ball better and defend well in the second game” Warriors skipper said Jude Ochen on game 2.
In the women’s division, last year's finalists UCU Lady Canons and defending champions KCCA Leopards are set to extend their leads in the respective series as they got no trouble winning the opening games