Basketball in Africa

UCU Canons’ Innocent Odwo takes on Rhino’s Abel Omongin during the two teams Airtel National Basketball League game on Wednesday. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA 

That is what Charging Rhinos did on Wednesday as they claimed a hard-fought 59-57 victory over the UCU Canons in front of a sparse crowd at YMCA.

After the 30 points against champions City Oilers, Ulanga was restricted to 14 points as his side failed to contain Rhinos’ late surge that saw them claim the final quarter 20-9.

Fahmy Sebantidira made a three pointer with less than two minutes on the clock to give Rhinos their only lead throughout the game as his side exposed UCU’s thin roster.

The university side, who played without coach Nicholas Natuhereza on the bench, fielded eight players in what might turn out to be the story of their season.

Rasheed Male led the way for Rhinos with 12 points supplemented by Swaib Karungi’s 11 and Joseph Odyek’s 10 for the side that only managed to scrape through the play offs last season.

In the ladies’ action, Esther Apolot scored 33 points to lead Nkumba Marines to a 132-17 thumping of Crane High Ladies.
The league is meanwhile expected to resume on Sunday after the local basketball governing body Fuba postponed all games as result of some clubs’ involvement in the Zuku University basketball .