17 August 2015
KENYA : Masaku beat Mennonite 83-0! worst offensive Kenya premier tie
UGANDA : We have a chance to surprise a few people at Afrobasket – Josh Johnson
ll
© Kawowo Sports / AISHA NAKATO
Silverbacks point guard Josh Johnson says Uganda will surprise teams at Afrobasket
Uganda’s national men’s basketball team – The Silverbacks had their
last tune up game for the August 19-30 Afrobasket against the National
Basketball League Select Side on Friday night at Lugogo.
Not so convincingly they won the game 68-51 thanks to Stanley Ociti’s 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Despite the performance with four days to the tournament, point
guard, Josh Johnson is conviced the team is almost ready for the event.
“I think we are getting close to where we wanna be as a team. We were
not consistent with what we did today but I think we will get better
and we are getting ready” Johnson told Kawowo Sports
Uganda’s Silverbacks will start the continental showpiece against the
hosts and also tournament favourites Tunisia on the opening night.
Johnson believes they are not going to be a pushover and will compete well with the North Africans.
“I believe so many things can happen in sports and they don’t come as always predicted,” he said.
“As team they (Tunisia) don’t what we have, what we are good at. I
think we have a chance to surprise a few people. I trust my bunch of
guys and we are going up there to compete.”
Josh Johnson accords Tunisia the due respect but says they have an
advantage over the Tunisians don’t know much about how the Silverbacks
play.
“Tunisia are a good team. We know who they are but they don’t know
who we are and that’s one good thing. We going up there to compete, play
good basketball and put ourselves in a good position”
UGANDA : KISU Bucks win inaugural FUBA Jr. NBA League
© Kawowo Sports / AISHA NAKATO
KISU Bucks were crowned champions of the inaugural FUBA Jr. NBA League
Finals: Mashariki High Pelicans 51-66 KISU Bucks
3rd Place Playoff: Hilton Nets 52-74 Crane High Trail Blazers
KISU Bucks has won the first ever junior basketball league in Uganda – the FUBA Junior NBA League.
Their coach Hans De Heer was delighted by the feat much as he admits it has been challenging.
“It (Season) has been challenging but again quite rewarding after the final” De Heer said.
The KISU Bucks saw of Mashariki Pelicans 66-51 thanks to a game high 39 points and 16 rebounds from Abraham Meron.
After a square first quarter, KISU’s abundance of offensive options
started to show as they slowly but steadily started to pull away from
Mashariki.
KISU 's coach De Heer says it came down to the quality in numbers.
The other team (Mahariki) has two good players – the number 14 (Fayed
Baale) and their number 13 (Tayob Jal) but we had more quality in the
numbers and that gave me more options to change the team without playing
bad. The guys were keeping the momentum
Despite taking a mere 3 points lead into halftime, the KISU Bucks returned with a big second half.
Mashariki kept chasing and were paced by the MVP Fayed Baale but
didn’t catch up as he got little help from the teammates. Baale poured
in 36 points, picked 7 rebounds and swiped 10 steals. Tayob Jal chipped
in with 7 points and game high 17 rebounds
FUBA President Ambrose Tashobya (L) hands the MVP trophy to Mashariki Pelicans' Fayed Baale
Stephane Okonge had 10 points for KISU.
Maimi Heat’s forward, Luol Deng watched the youngsters from courtside and was impressed by what he saw.
It’s very exciting to see this. The program is going on and I can see
the kids are being coached well. They know this the final and they are
playing well together.
Miami Heat's Luol Deng (R) congratulates KISU Bucks' Bruce Ainebyona
Meanwhile, Crane High Trailblazers beat Hilton High Nets 74-52 to
take third place thanks to Andrew Kiseka’s 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Emmanuel Makuel contributed 18 points and picked 18 rebounds while Ivan
Matovu.
Roland Muwanguzi had a one man show for Hilton netting game high 35 points to go with 10 rebounds.
14 August 2015
NIGERIA : Mark Mentors Seal Semi-Final Ticket, Eye Continent
Reigning FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone-3 champions, Mark Mentors
Basketball Club of Abuja, yesterday afternoon sealed a semi-final ticket
of the ongoing 2015 DStv Premier Basketball League Final-8 Playoffs.
The Mentors did that in grand style with a 65-52 points win over
Nigeria Customs Service Basketball Club of Lagos to make it three win
from three Group A games played to lead the pairing.
The coach Peter Ahmedu-tutored side had earlier defeated Atlantic
Conference champion by 78-68 points on Monday and earned a hard fought
victory over fellow Savannah Conference side, Gombe Bulls Basketball
Club by 63-61 points on Tuesday.
Though Customs outsmarted Mentors on the board with 42-39 rebounds
but the Igoche Mark-inspired side were the better side with 14-11
assist, five to four steal and recorded lesser turn-over with 18-25.
Mark Mentors captain and D'Tigers shooting guard, Stanley Gumut, led
his side with 19 points and 8 rebounds while small forward, Abdulwahab
Yahaya, added 11 points and 3 rebounds to lead side to her second
straight semi-final berth.
Mentors recorded the biggest lead of 20-6 points' midway into the
second quarter after giving away the first quarter by 14-15 points.
The Mentors put behind it the slim first quarter loss to the Scott
Nnaji coached Customs to outwit the their opponent with 12-9 points win
in the second quarter for half-time score of 26-24 points, the
Abuja-based side who narrowly lost the league title to reigning champion
Kano Pillars in 2014 opened up the game in the third quarter winning by
25-14 points to take a 51-38 points lead into the final quarter which
both sides shared evenly at 14 points apiece.
Mentors head coach, Ahmedu told our correspondent shortly after the
game against Customs that only the league title is good for them this
year while not underrating whoever emerge as their semi-final opponent.
"We are grateful to the team management especially our Chairman,
Igoche Mark, who ensured that areas we were facing challenges were
sorted out before our departure for Lagos and the only way we can
reciprocate the huge gesture is to go back to Abuja with the trophy and a
place in the continent," declared Coach Ahmedu.
UGANDA : Deng for Junior League
By Elvis Senono
Kampala — Basketball
superstar Luol Deng will be the guest of honour as Mashariki Pelicans
and KISU Bucks clash in the final of the Junior NBA Fuba League due
Saturday at Lugogo.
"We received confirmation this week and are expecting him to arrive
today," Grace Kwizera, the Junior National Basketball League project
head, said yesterday.
Deng, who operates mainly as a small forward, fled his native Sudan
with his family as a child. He moved to Egypt and later the United
Kingdom. He acquired British citizenship in 2006.
The two-time All-Star started his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls
in 2004 and played for them until 2013. He joined Miami Heat in July
2014 after spending half a season at Cleveland Cavaliers.
Deng will grace the final of the competition, which is played by boys aged between 12-15.
KISU Bucks and the Entebbe-based Mashariki Pelicans emerged champions from their respective conferences last Sunday.
The Pelicans can count themselves lucky as they were only reinstated
for the Western Conference final after their 82-66 loss to Kisubi High
Thunder was overturned because the latter fielded unregistered players.
The game though was lit up by a fine individual display from Pelicans'
Fayed Baale, who converted 58% of his shots for 47 points. The point
guard then returned with a game high 25 points as the Pelicans edged the
Crane High Trail Blazers 56-55 in a nail-biting game for a place in the
final.
There was no such drama in the East as the KISU Bucks beat Ndejje SS
Wizards 82-75 in the semifinal before defeating Hilton High Nets 79-68
in the final with William Deheer finishing with a combined 47 points
from the two games.
KISU Bucks beat Ndejje SS Wizards 82-75 in the semifinal before
defeating Hilton High Nets 79-68 in the final with William Deheer
finishing with a combined 47 points from the two games.
NBA JUNIOR LEAGUE FINALS
TODAY AT LUGOGO
Kisu Bucks vs. Mashariki Pelicans
Today at YMCA
Airtel National Basketball League
Women: Gladiators vs. UCU Lady Canons, 6:30pm
Men: Sharing Youth vs. Ndejje Univ. Angels, 8:30pm
KENYA : Giants of Africa: Shaping lives, forming talents through basketball
Masai Ujiri follows the action in Kayole.(Photo:Giants of Africa)
Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa were in Kayole on Monday.(Photo:Giants of Africa)
Masai Ujiri follows the action in Kayole.(Photo:Giants of Africa)
Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa were in Kayole on Monday.(Photo:Giants of Africa)
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The General manager NBA’s Toronto
Raftors, Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa is holding camps in four
African countries across Africa for the first time.
Marking its
12th year supporting the growth of basketball in Africa, Giants of
Africa has expanded its camps from Nigeria and Kenya to include Ghana
and Rwanda. Camps which has already visited Nigeria, Ghana and will
wind up the tour in Rwanda.
Giants of Africa camps bring
together top coaches from various countries to help run the sessions and
are designed to help young basketball players develop athletically,
achieve life goals and become better players.
“Running the Giants of Africa camps every year has become very important to us,” said Ujiri.
“We have to give back and encourage the youth. While we all want to do
well in our daily jobs, we must never forget what got us here. Using
basketball to educate and develop African youth is just the beginning of
what needs to be accomplished. Coaching the coaches and building
infrastructure is key for the growth of the game on the continent.
These kids are motivated, aspire to learn and continue to work hard. It
is a responsibility for us to inspire them to keep aiming high by
providing them opportunities to grow."
Since the Giants of
Africa camps began more than 100 camp attendees have moved on to high
school or university in the United States, with around 20 now playing
professionally in Europe.
Modeled after the NBA’s Basketball
Without Borders outreach program, Giants of Africa holds two types of
annual camps – Top 50 Camp and Big Man Camp. Its approach is to use the
game of basketball as a means to teach and nurture important life
skills.
The Top 50 Camp focuses on the top 50 kids from across
the country and provides campers with three intense days of instruction.
The Big Man Camp teaches young athletes at six-foot-eight and
above the basic fundamentals of the game with a focus on running,
catching, footwork and shooting.
The goal for both camps is to begin to develop each of these athletes’ skills at a young, and still developmental age.
This approach provides an opportunity for ongoing improvement as each child continues to develop, learn and grow.
KENYA : Blades hand Ulinzi third season loss
Strathmore Blades inflicted the third
defeat to Ulinzi Warriors in the Kenya Basketball Federation men's
Premier League by winning 71-58 on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium
gymnasium.
The result comes after losses to Nakuru Club and
Thunder. Last weekend, the soldiers struggled to a slim 59-57 win over
United States International University- Africa (USIU-A). In that game,
they had to fight back from 24-29 down at halftime.
Despite the
Sunday loss, Ulinzi still leads in the Western Conference with 21 points
from 13 games while B are on 18 points from 10 games.
At half
time, Blades led 39-35. Ulinzi won first quarter 15-13 and Blades the
second 26-20. Third quarter was level 15-all before Blades clinched the
fourth 17-8. Shilton Ochieng scored 16 points for Blades and Mike Oketch
added 12. For Ulinzi, Victor Odendo and Bernard Mufutu scored 11 and 10
points respectively.
Nakuru Club extended its fine
performance this season beating Lions 54-50 after taking a 22-18
halftime lead. Lions won first and fourth quarters 11-6 and 22-20 while
Nakuru won the second and third 16-7 and 12-10.
Victor Orare
top-scored for Nakuru on 14 points and James Okerio added 11. Marvin
Omondi and Simon Mayien jointly scored 10 points for Lions.
In the women's Premier League, Masaku Sparks beat Sprite Storms 49-33.
They led 27-12 at halftime. Betty Kananu scored 13 points for Masaku and
Pamela Sinda added 11. Susan Akinyi led the scores for Storms with 10
points.
Masaku won first, second and fourth quarters 10-9, 17-3 and 13-12 respectively while third quarter tied at nine all.
USIU-A led 49-9 at half time on their way to beating Mennonites 90-17.
Cynthia Odhiambo scored 14 points and Maureen Andalia added 12 for
USIU-A.
In division one, World Hope lost the opportunity to push
for the leadership of Eastern Conference when they forfeited their game
against Don Bosco resulting in a 20-0 walkover loss. Barclays Bank
piled more pressure on Western Conference leaders KCA-U winning 57-25
against Parklands Baptist who have won only once from 12 outings.
Abel
Kimondo scored 20 points for the bankers who restricted their opponents
to single digit scores in all quarters. Kelvin Mutua scored 13 points
as visiting Nebulas-Kakamega beat Trailblazers 70-56. Howard Nyerere had
20 points for the losers.
Results:
Nebulas-Kakamega 70 Trailblazers 56, Barclays Bank 57 Parklands Baptist
25, World Hope 0 Don Bosco 20 (walkover), USIU Flames 90 Mennonite 17,
Masaku Sparks 49 Sprite Storms 33, Lions 50 Nakuru Club 54, Blades 71
Ulinzi Warriors 58.
UGANDA : Silverbacks: Oilers-KIU clash put off
KAMPALA-The anticipated clash between City
Oilers and KIU Titans earlier scheduled for this evening has been
postponed to pave way for another warm up game for the Silverbacks who
are preparing for the Afro-basketball Championship.
The game which is again expected to be played
against a select team of the top division players comes as a welcome
boost for Mandy Juruni.
The Silverbacks coach had requested for another
warm-up game after Monday’s 80-68 win over the select side before the
team departs on Sunday.
“I am sure this team can perform a lot better than
you have seen today. We never got out of our shell and there were a lot
of nerves from the home based players who were eager to prove
themselves. May be we can fix one or two games before we leave,” stated
Juruni.
Stanley Ocitti impressed with 17 points in his
first game in national team colours while Kassim Nangwere and Samuel
Mukooza chipped in with 16 and 13 points respectively.
The Silverbacks have had low key preparations
after the federation cancelled plans to have the team camp in Turkey
because of lack of funds.
essenono@ug.nationmedia.com
UGANDA : Gazelles, Silverbacks in trial games
Uganda’s preparations for the All Africa Games and
Afro-Basketball Championships due next month will be aided with warm-up
games for the two national teams.
The national women’s side, the Gazelles, are to
test themselves against visiting American College team, Westmont. The
first of the two friendlies will be played today at Lugogo.
Westmont are in Uganda on a 12-day mission trip to
minister and play basketball alongside the Sports Outreach Institute in
Kampala and Gulu. “The games should help me try out some of the 20
players on the tentative list ahead of the tournaments,” Gazelles coach,
Timothy Odeke, said at the weekend.
The two teams will then meet again at Lugogo
tomorrow before the national men’s team, the Silverbacks, play a select
side of foreign players featuring in the Airtel National Basketball
League.
The Silverbacks, unlike the Gazelles, are already
camping at Hotel Africana ahead of the Men’s Afro-Basket Championship
due August 19-30 in Tunisia. With local basketball body, Fuba, short of
backers after previous sponsors Linglong Tyre Company pulled out, the
federation is also organizing fundraising dinner at Hotel Africana on
Thursday.
gazelles squad
Claire
Lamunu, Rebecca Akullo, Flavia Oketcho, Peace Proscovia, Sharon
Karungi, Victoria Nassolo, Lisa Karungi, Judith Nansobya, Maureen
Amoding, Muhayimina Namuwaya, Martha Soigi, Sylivia Nakazibwe, Elizabeth
Kizza, Frances Nabulobi, Ruth Meme, Monica Siima, Winnie Anyango, Joy
Chemutai, Hatima Kassim, Angella Namirimu
UGANDA : Our Saviour looking to rekindle sustained run in league
KAMPALA. After their 75-53 first round win over Falcons
a few weeks back, Our Saviour coach Martin Kelly asked for his team to
show similar conviction against the other teams in the Airtel National
Basketball League. What followed were two more wins that helped the
newly formed side to a 4-0 run, the best they have managed this season.
The
start of the second round has, however, had the team revert to their
inconsistent start that currently leaves the play-off chasing team with a
6-7 record.
It is that record they will seek to improve when they encounter Sharing Youth in one of two games this evening at YMCA.
The
Caleb Earnest’s side have put up improved performances with Alex Lugasi
and Tong Gatwech who are averaging 20 and 15 points respectively from
their previous two games.
The results though continue to tell a
different story, leaving them just outside the two relegation slots and a
3-10 record on the 12 team log.
RWANDA : Espoir's Mugabe eyes FIBA Africa Zone V title
Mugabe has challenged his Espoir teammates to turn focus on winning the forthcoming Zone Five Championships. (File)
After retaining both the basketball regular
league title and the play-offs trophy, Espoir Point Guard and captain
Aristide Mugabe has challenged his teammates not to sit on their laurels
but instead turn focus on winning the forthcoming Zone Five
Championships.
This year’s FIFA Africa Zone Five Club Championship is scheduled for October 4-11 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The 27-year-old made the call after leading the Nyamirambo-based
Espoir to their fourth consecutive play-offs title last weekend at
Amahoro indoor stadium.
Espoir, won the Zone V Championship in 2012 in Kampala, and claimed
this year’s play-offs crown after overwhelming debutants Patriots
Basketball Club 3-1 in the best-of-five finals series. Patriots won Game
1 but Espoir’s superiority shone through as they dominated Game 2, 3
and 4.
“We are happy we retained the play-offs title to add to the (regular
season) league but the tougher challenge lies ahead in the Zone V
Championship. Our objective is to win the tournament in-front of our
home fans,” Mugabe said on Tuesday.
The Rwanda international noted that, “Every team will come here
(Kigali) targeting us, so we need to be really up for the challenge. For
us to get maximum support from our fans, we also need to play well and
show them that we mean business.”
Jean Bahufite’s team takes a short break to enjoy yet another
successful season but return to training in the next two weeks to start
preparing for the regional championships.
Espoir defeated Burundi’s Urunani to win the 2012 Zone V title in
Kampala before losing in the final the following year (to Urunani) in
Bujumbura. Last year in Mombasa, the Rwandan champions failed to go
beyond the group stages, finishing sixth out of eight teams.
Urunani beat Kenya’s Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 68-59 to retain the
title while USIU of Kenya thrashed compatriots KPA 63-26 to claim the
women’s crown.
05 August 2015
UGANDA : Our Saviour looking to rekindle sustained run in league
KAMPALA. After their 75-53 first round win over
Falcons a few weeks back, Our Saviour coach Martin Kelly asked for his
team to show similar conviction against the other teams in the Airtel
National Basketball League. What followed were two more wins that helped
the newly formed side to a 4-0 run, the best they have managed this
season.
The start of the second round has, however, had the team
revert to their inconsistent start that currently leaves the play-off
chasing team with a 6-7 record.
It is that record they will seek to improve when they encounter Sharing Youth in one of two games this evening at YMCA.
The
Caleb Earnest’s side have put up improved performances with Alex Lugasi
and Tong Gatwech who are averaging 20 and 15 points respectively from
their previous two games.
The results though continue to tell a
different story, leaving them just outside the two relegation slots and a
3-10 record on the 12 team log.
essenono@ug.nationmedia.com
03 August 2015
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RWANDA : Patriots upbeat ahead of playoffs
Patrick Habiyambere will lead Patriots against defending champions Espoir today. (Sam Ngendahimana)
Today
3rd place playoffs, Game One
UR-CASS vs The Hoops 10am (women)
CSK vs APR 12pm (men)
Finals, Game One
APR vs Ubumwe 3pm (women)
Espoir vs Patriots 5pm (men)
Sunday
3rd place playoffs, Game Two
The Hoops vs UR-CASS 10am (Women)
APR vs CSK 12pm (men)
Finals, Game Two
Ubumwe vs APR 3pm (women)
Patriots vs Espoir 5pm (men)
Play-off games debutants, Patriots Basketball Club,
will lock horns with title holders Espoir BBC when both giants
square-off today in Game One of the best-of-five finals at Amahoro
stadium at 5pm.
Jean Bahufite’s three-time reigning champions Espoir and Cyrille
Kalima’s newly formed Patriots BBC set up a date for finals after edging
Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) and APR in the best-of-three
semi-finals last week.
Talking to Saturday Sport in a telephone interview on Friday,
Patriots tactician Kalima said his players are fit and ready to face
Espoir in their battle for the first trophy of the season.
“We are ready for the challenge. We are going to play our best
basketball to dethrone three-time defending champions Espoir. It’s a
tough call but the target is achievable,” the Former KBC head coach told
this paper.
In a separate interview, Espoir’s Bahufite said his players are
equally up to the task. “My players are mature, experienced and are used
to such pressures. We will retain the crown for a record fourth
consecutive time.”
This clash of titans will be preceded by Game One in finals of the
women’s category between holders Ubumwe BBC and regular league champions
APR at 3pm. All Game One fixtures today and Game Two fixtures tomorrow
will be played at Amahoro indoor stadium.
UGANDA : Guard Ouma hails Oluoch impact as Falcons rediscover form
Francis Kasinde of Tiger Head Power (L) challenges Joseph Ouma of
Falcons during the Airtel Fuba League between the two basketball giants
at the MTN Arena Lugogo. HOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
By ELVIS SENONO
Posted
Monday, July 27
2015 at
01:00
In Summary
Basketball. Kenyan coach Bernard Olouch has been in charge of Falcons for a week.
KAMPALA. Star Times Falcons have had a sequential season in the National Basketball League thus far.
Six straight wins were followed by a run of five defeats in six games.
On
Friday, they recorded a 66-42 win over Tiger Head Power and second
straight since Kenyan Bernard Oluoch replaced Sam Obol as coach.
Despite only being in charge for a week, guard Joseph Ouma is confident his country mate will help revive the team’s fortunes.
“There is a difference in player rotation which
has raised confidence among all players on the team,” Ouma told the
Daily Monitor after the game.
“He is also very experienced which is also a huge advantage,” added Ouma who had a game high 15 points.
Stephen
Omony and Ariel Okall added 14 and 13 points respectively with the
latter also picking 16 rebounds as Falcons improved to 9-5.
For Power meanwhile defeat left coach Robert Mugabe decrying the inconsistency in fixtures.
“May
be we have taken long without a competitive game but we were also
beaten by a team which was better in all aspects so we can’t use that as
an excuse.”
FRIDAY RESULT
Falcons 66-42 Power
