Basketball in Africa

By Elvis SenonoWith a 1-0 series lead over UCU Lady Canons(before yesterday’s game two) Claire Lamunu is in her second final with KCCA Leopards , consecutively, since breaking with the Gladiators’ team two seasons ago.

This is, as expected her most successful year in what promises to be a stellar career.

Lamunu was voted both MVP and top scorer as the Uganda ladies’ basketball team, the Gazelles clinched a maiden appearance at next year’s next year’s Afro basket and All Africa Games.

Despite the achievements, Lamunu is more than keen to add the national title to her medal collection having lost last year’s title to the same opponents.

“I have not really won any titles so winning this would really be really special,” she explained after a game high 18 points in game one against the Lady Canons on Wednesday.

The result gave the Leopards a 62-60 game one victory in the best of seven final series on Wednesday.

The small forward and her team though are unlikely to find it easy especially with the absence of “big men” Martha Soigi and Peace Proscovia.

“They are extremely important players but we are learning to cope without them,” Lamunu, who averaged 22 points and nine rebounds in the playoff quarter and semifinals, explains.

The former Namagunga High School student also believes that with guard Flavia Okecho in the team, they always stand a good chance of claiming honours.
“She is probably the best player I have played alongside”, she reveals.

Lamunu, a third year Bio medical engineering student at Makerere University also credits KCCA and Gazelles’ coach Timothy Odeke as the biggest influence in her basketball career.

“He gives me the freedom to express myself and probably has more belief in me than I have in myself,” she reveals with a slight chuckle.

BASKETBALL ROAD
• Started playing basketball in 2008 while on holiday in her Senior three term three holidays in Gulu
• Played on Namagunga team following year until 2011
• Played for Gladiators in 2012
• Signed with KCCA Leopards 2013

FORMER CLUBS
2012- Gladiators

CAREER HIGH POINTS
• 2010- MVP in Wakiso District schools qualifiers
• 2011-Best rebounder at national schools championship
• 2013- Reached final of National Basketball League with KCCA
• 2014- Women MVP at Fiba Africa Zone V National Basketball Championship
• 2014-Top Scorer at Fiba Africa Zone V National Basketball Championship (76 points in four games)
• 2014-Helped Gazelles win Fiba Africa Zone V National Basketball Championship

TOMORROW AT LUGOGO
GAME 3
KCCA Leopards Vs UCU Lady Canons