Basketball in Africa

Samuel Ogutu of KIU Titans drives to the hoop past Star Times Falcons’ Derrick Mbusi in the first round. KIU won the game 76-62. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA 

By  ELVIS SENONO

Posted  Friday, July 10   2015 at  07:17

KAMPALA- Despite a 76-62 first round defeat to KIU Titans, Star Times Falcons forward Stephen Omony reckons there was little to choose between the two teams then.

“We are not too far behind but just need to sort out a few issues on our defense,” he said in the aftermath of the game in which his side clawed to within three points two minutes to the end.

A fortnight on, the two teams clash again as the Airtel National Basketball League second round tips off this evening at YMCA Wandegeya.

A 6-0 start for Falcons was followed by three straight losses before concluding the first round seeded fifth with a 7-4 record.

Only Omony and Kenyan center Ariel Okall have managed to put in consistent performances for Sam Obol’s side to arrest the slump with the pair averaging 17 and 16 points respectively from their last five games.

The same cannot be said of their opponents, KIU, whose depth sees them sitting top of the log after a 10-1 record going into the second round.

The acquisition of experienced players; Henry Malinga, Norman Blick and Diego Angemi, has ensured that the gelling has not taken as long as coach Hamza Nyambogo had anticipated. Blick and Angemi also did most of the damage, scoring 14 and 18 points respectively in the first round encounter between the two teams.

Nyambogo will expect more of the same today. In the ladies category, A1 Challenge, who completed the first round as third seeds with an 8-3 record, play fourth-seeded KIU Rangers (5-6) in the day’s opening game.