21 November 2015
RWANDA " Mugabe keen to lead Patriots to pre-season hoops title
Former Espoir captain Aristide takes aim for a free-throw during the Zone V Club Championship in Kigali last month. (File)
Today
Semi-finalsEspoir vs APR 4pmPatriots vs IPRC-South 6pm
Patriots Basketball Club new signing Aristide Mugabe is eager to
repeat what he did with his former club Espoir by leading his new side
to the basketball pre-season tournament.
After inspiring Cyrille Kalima’s side to top pool B last weekend and a
place in the last four, all eyes will be on Mugabe when Patriots face
IPRC- South this evening at Amahoro indoor stadium in the second
semi-final.
The winner will face whoever comes on top in the clash between old
rivals APR and defending champions Espoir in the day’s first semi-final
at the same venue.
The 27-year-old point-guard, Mugabe joined Patriots earlier his month
from Espoir, a side he had served for the last five years, leading them
to four consecutive league and play-off titles among other trophies.
“Parting ways with Espoir was a tough decision to make but I had to
leave. Patriots are a new chapter in my career and I’m looking forward
to the challenge. My target is to win titles with the club including the
pre-season tournament,” the national team captain told Saturday Sport.
The 2012 FIBA Africa Zone Five MVP Mugabe added that, “Patriots are
committed and an ambitious team, they have shown they are capable of
challenging for trophies. I have been warmly welcomed here and, it
already feels like home.”
Patriots beat IPRC- Kigali 65-44 and APR 70-54 to finish top of pool B
and set semi-final meet with IPRC- South, who finished second from pool
A behind holders Espoir.
Finals in both male and female categories will be played on Sunday afternoon.
19 November 2015
UGANDA ;Power break jinx, pip Oilers in Overtime to knot series
© Kawowo Sports / AISHA NAKATO
City Oilers Landry Ndikumana hustles for a lose ball with Power's Micheal Makiadi and Abdullah Ramadhan
Tiger Head Power 90-88 City Oilers, OT (Series tied 1-1)
Tiger Head Power brought City Oilers winning run against them to an end and the timing couldn't be any better.
The 90-88 overtime win on Wednesday night at YMCA did not only end
City Oilers' fourteen game winning run but also leveled the five-game
semifinal series.
"Getting our dignity back was the motivation. I told the guys in the
team talk to forget about what the media say, let's forget about trying
to beat them to prove a point but lets just get our respect back and
they showed it out there, they wanted their respect back" Power coach,
Bernes Akunda said after the win.
It was City Oilers that got off the blocks first with a 28-18 first
as guard Jeff Omondi (23 points) was filling it from 3-point range.
Power were determined not to let it slip again responding with a 15-5
second quarter and their ascendency into the game continued in the third
to into the final quarter leading by 8 points (58-50).
Omondi ignited Oilers come back that cut Power's lead to three points
at the start of the fourth quarter with a corner 3-pointer.
With Power having a slim 73-71 lead with 31 seconds, Micheal Kojjo (7
points) was fouled on the lay-up and completed the 3-point play to
stretch Power's lead to 76-71. Oilers made a quick inbound and Jimmy
Enabu found Kami Kabange (29 points) at the top of the mountain who
pulled up and banked a 3-pointer with 21 seconds.
Bernes Akunda then called a Power timeout but after they were forced
into a turnover and Mandy Juruni called for a City Oilers timeout. On
return, Omondi inbounded to Ben Komakech who took three dribbles and
passed it Kami at the top of the stripe and elevated over Micheal
Makiadi (19 points) to tie the game at 76 and force overtime.
Joseph Ikong found Sudi Ulanga (20 points) to open overtime from
downtown before adding a lay up and a free throw. Omondi responded with
back-to-back 3 pointers
While the teams matched through the period but Power got the edge.
City Oilers coach Mandy Juruni was disappointed with the contribution of his bench.
"The only reason we lost today is we did not get anything from our
bench tonight and may be we were very weak defensively. We allowed so
many high percentage shots and may be a little bit of complacency" he
said.
UGANDA : Oilers look to press home advantage
Oilers will yet again rely on the class of Kami Kabange. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
By ISMAIL DHAKABA KIGONGO
Posted
Wednesday, November 18
2015 at
02:00
City Oilers are in a position of extreme comfort.
The two-time defending champions can even afford to be bullish or
complacent, or both. Neither scenario would be catastrophic.
Today’s Game Two of the Pepsi-Fuba League playoff
best-of-five semifinals series at YMCA court against Tiger Head Power is
nothing more than just another game for Oilers.
Heavy with 15 successive victories over Power in
all competitions, stretching back to 2013, Oilers must find new ways to
motivate themselves against their 'favourite' side. Centre Kami Kabange
knows how to.
Friday’s Game One 62-58 victory was on the back of
a poor performance. “They are finished now,” warned Kabange, 22 points
and 13 rebounds. “We are not going to play as badly again.”
That coach Mandy Juruni’s side can improve is a
given. It’s something that should make Power fret following last year’s
4-0 sweep at the hands of the same opponent in the finals.
Coach Bernice Ankunda remains an optimist that
this won’t end 3-0. “We just have to play hard,” Ankunda said. Even a
3-1 loss would look like an achievement for the five-time champions.
One adjustment Ankunda has to make is keeping ‘big
men’ Michael Makiadi and Michael Kojo on the floor together longer to
counter Kabange, Landry Ndikumana and Samuel Kalwanyi.
While Sudi Ulanga, 17 points in the series opener,
is their primary scorer, point guard Abdullahi Ramadhan has to start to
involve everyone else on offense. That one-pass offense is too shallow.
Defeat tonight and Power will almost be rendered
helpless against being swept by an opponent they seem not to have clue
on how to beat. Some fans were bold enough to carry some brooms during
last year's final.
In the women’s series KCCA Leopards should take
another step towards another final appearance after beating KIU Rangers
72-53 in Game One.
PEPSI-FUBA LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
TODAY AT YMCA
MEN
Power vs City Oilers, 8.30pm
WOMEN
KIU vs KCCA, 6.30pm
17 November 2015
GAMBIA : Gambia in Semis of Basketball 3×3 in Mali
By Sulayman Bah
Gambia national basketball squad reached the semi-finals of the FIBA sponsored 3×3 tourney in Mali, Foroyaa Sport can report.
The team lost the
opening tie against hosts Mali on Saturday but resuscitated their
campaign to beat Guinea Conakry on 13-12 at the Mali Cultural Basketball
lawn, a source close to the team camp divulges.
The squad's win put
them on brink of snatching gold hinging on outcome of their semi-final
game which was being played as we went to press.
Gambia's
participation in this year's competition sponsored by international
Basketball Association means an end to the country's thirty-seven-year
absence from international basketball.
Coach Foday
Singhateh and his charges were ranked T-94 prior to this tournament and
last starred in an international Basketball championship in 1978 in the
African Championship where they finished 9th.
BOTSWANA : Dolphins Champions
By Jeremiah Sejabosigo
Gaborone
— Dolphins are the Botswana Basketball League men's division 1
champions after beating Troopers 71-56 in a fast-paced title decider
played on Saturday night. The entertaining match was halted for more
than 30 minutes in the last quarter due to darkness after lights went
off at the University of Botswana (UB) basketball courts.
Before the match,
Troopers were top of the log with 22 points from 12 matches, while
Dolphins were in second position with 20 points from 11 matches.
Therefore, both teams needed victory in order to win the league.
It was Troopers who
started the match confidently with Mbaki Pitso, Thebe Morwaagole, Teko
Sekgwama and Duma Setlhare orchestrating brisk attacks.
Morwaagole scored good baskets as Troopers established a 10-3 lead in the early stages of an end to end first quarter.
However, Dolphins found their footing and closed the gap to leave the score tied 18-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The match continued
to be an entertaining end to end staff in the second quarter, but
Dolphins dominated goalmouth action as Nathan Warikandwa combined well
with Tshepo Mixon and Kesaobaka Ndawanyana.
The physicality of the battles led to the two teams committing a lot of fouls which resulted in many free-throws.
Warikandwa in particular was a menace to Troopers as Dolphins established a 34-31 half-time lead.
Dolphins produced a
masterful attacking performance with Ndawanyana, Patrick Mokgethi and
Michael Masilo plundering more points to leave Troopers on their knees
in the third quarter and stretching their lead 56-39.
Their defence was a
lot more solid after the break as they won a lot of rebounds, leaving
Troopers attackers Mothusi Phokoje, Setlhare and Pitso frustrated.
Dolphins continued
their domination of the match, but the lights then went off six minutes
into the fourth quarter, halting what was an engaging spectacle.
When lighting returned, Dolphins slowed down play with the intention of seeing out their win.
Dolphins coach, Trynos Moyo expressed happiness about winning the league for the first time since he started coaching the team.
"We are just happy to win the league, but we are also humble. To beat a team like Troopers to win the league is something else.
We managed to run them down, we managed to tire them," Moyo said.
With the national championships set to start this week, Moyo wants his young team to continue playing well.
"The national championships will be a different ball game.
But chances are we would meet them again, we would give everything we can," he said.
Spartans, Flames and Police finished the league in third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
Meanwhile, Police V women have retained their title in the women's league after finishing with 28 points.
BDF V came second
with 26 points, while Dolphins and UB Relics were third and fourth
respectively. Avengers came fifth while BC Ravens finished sixth.
Source : BOPA
KENYA : Advantage USIU-A, KPA and Co-op Bank
15
United States International
University- Africa (USIU-A), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and
Co-operative Bank have a foot into the women's Premier League playoffs
semifinals after winning game one of the well attended quarterfinals
played at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
The
best-of-three series means the trio will need to register a win in game
two on Saturday to progress. Their opponents are in a must-win situation
in game two to force a decider.
The game between USIU-A and
Masaku Sparks was billed as the biggest clash for the weekend but ended
up with the students dominating with a 64-52 win. The students were
in their true pace, energetic and displayed teamwork despite playing for
the third day running.
They had beaten Co-op Bank 43-42 on Friday and Sprite Storms 44-43 on Saturday to complete their regular season fixtures.
Masaku
were casual in their offense losing easy scoring opportunities that
could have made the difference. For the entire game, they led only once
at 7-6 early in first quarter as the students commanded the court.
USIU-A won the first quarter 19-7 and extended to 21-7 early into
second quarter. Crucial baskets from Betty Kananu helped Masaku claw
back to cut the deficit to seven points at 23-16. The quarter tied 13-13
for a 32-20 halftime lead to USIU-A.
The students won third
quarter 20-18 and Masaku the fourth 14-12. Georgia Adhiambo top scored
for USIU-A with 18 points, Angela Okoth had 14 and Sarah Chan scored 12.
Kananu scored 17 for Masaku with Michelle Otinda adding 11.
Easy win
KPA
had an easy 59-27 win over Eagle Wings with quarterly scores of 17-8,
18-9, 16-6 and 8-4. Apart from a 2-2 tie in first quarter, KPA enjoyed
the lead all through with.
Annerose Mandela top scored with 16
points and grabbed seven rebounds while Natalie Akinyi scored 11 points,
five rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Yvonne Akinyi added 9
points. Lucy Machuma was the top scorer for Eagles with 13 points.
Strathmore
University put up a competitive play before losing 38-48 to Co-op Bank.
The students capitalized on their pace to counter the experienced
bankers scoring crucial points on fast breaks.
Co-op Bank won the
first quarter 9-8 after taking a 2-0 lead. Strathmore led twice at 4-2
and 7-4 while both teams tied at 2-2 and 4-4. In second quarter,
Strathmore led at 10-9, 12-11 and 14-12 with Co-op Bank enjoying the
lead at 11-10 and 16-14.
There were two ties in the quarter at 12-12 and 14-14 with Co-op Bank winning 9-6 to lead 18-14 at halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Co-op Bank stretched the lead to 23-14 but
Susan Manya and Mollete Achieng led the comeback for Strathmore to tie
at 25-25. They briefly led 27-25 before tying 27-27 going to fourth
quarter.
Strathmore won the third quarter 13-9. In fourth
quarter, the game tied at 29-29 with Co-op Bank enjoying the lead for
the remaining period.
The only men's Premier League game played saw USIU-A take a 1-0 series lead over Co-op Bank with a 86-56 win.
The
bankers were competitive only in first quarter as the students enjoyed
their free flowing play. USIU-A won first quarter 22-17 after a see-saw
performance. Co-op Bank led at 2-0, 4-2 and 8-6 with USIU-A leading 6-4,
9-8, 15-13 and 18-15.
Tied five times
The
game tied five times in the quarter at 2-2, 4-4, 6-6, 13-13 and 15-15.
USIU-A began to break away in second quarter and enjoyed the biggest
lead of 16 points at 45-29. They won the quarter 23-14 to lead 45-31 at
halftime.
In the third quarter, the students continued with their
dominant play with the biggest lead of 21 points at 60-39 to win the
quarter 22-13. Their biggest lead in fourth quarter was 30 points as
they won 19-12.
Alvin Nyangweso scored a game high 31 points for USIU-A while Allan Ouma top scored for Co-op Bank with 18 points.
In division one, 4-Christ and Africa Nazarene University (ANU) began
the push to earn promotion by winning game one of their quarterfinals.
4-Christ came back from 27-30 at halftime to beat Barclays Bank 61-59.
David
Sinda shot 82% from the three-point line to top score for 4-Christ with
22 points while Franklin Delano top scored for Barclays with 14 points,
Dan Nalwege scored 13 and Neville Ogutu had 11. 4-Christ scored half of
their points from the three-point line.
Bayles Cossiga scored
11 of the first 13 points of the game to steer ANU to a 57-51 win over
Upper Hill. He top scored with 20 points while David Ouma scored 16 for
Upper Hill and Isaiah Ater added 13.
KBF Weekend Results
Saturday:
MKU Thika 72 Eldonets 56, Storms 43 USIU-A 44, Ulinzi Blades 53 Equity
Bank 56, Thunder 58 KU Pirates 54, Parklands Baptist 54 Eldonets 59; Sunday:
KPA 59 Eagle Wings 27, Barclays Bank 59 4-Christ 61, ANU 57 Upper Hill
51, Co-op Bank 48 Strathmore Swords 38, USIU-A 64 Masaku Sparks 52,
Co-op Bank 56 USIU-A 86.
KENYA : USIU-A confronts Masaku in playoffs quarters
USIU-A Flames begin their premier league defence against Masaku Sparks. (Photo by Shutterspeed)
United States International
University- Africa (USIU-A) will begin the defense of their women
Premier League title against Masaku Sparks as the Kenya Basketball
Federation playoffs begin on Sunday.
USIU-A finished top in
western conference while Masaku came fourth in Eastern Conference. Both
teams faced off two weeks ago in the inter-conference game that was very
competitive, the students winning 77-73.
Their clash in the
quarterfinals will be a chance for another juicy encounter. On Friday
night, USIU-A warmed up for the playoffs with a slim win of 43-42 over
Co-operative Bank. The game was decided in overtime after the bankers
came back from behind in both halves to force extra time.
In
first quarter, USIU-A took a 11-2 lead after seven minutes of play. The
opening three minutes were scoreless. Beldine Akinyi singlehandedly
brought Co-op Bank back to the game with six straight points from two
baskets and two free shots. USIU-A won the quarter 9-8.
In the
second quarter, Akinyi made a basket that tied the game 13-13 with four
minutes played but USIU-A led 15-13. Co-op Bank took the lead for the
first time at 16-15 after good play from Mercy Etyang who made a basket
and free shot.
They extended the lead to 20-15 but USIU-A
fought back with Sarah Chan scoring the crucial basket that tied the
game at 20-20 going to halftime. Co-op Bank won the quarter 12-11.
In
the second half, it was another catch up play for Co-op Bank who could
only manage a free shot in the third quarter. Zipporah Adhiambo broke
the tie with a basket to give USIU-A a 22-20 lead at the start of this
quarter. The students won 10-1 to open up a nine points lead.
Grace
Wanjiku scored 10 points in fourth quarter including two successive
three-point shots to lead Co-op Bank into a comeback. With 1:08 to play,
the bankers took the lead at 37-36. USIU-A then led 39-37 before ending
up 39-39.
In overtime, Zipporah Adhiambo scored a basket and two
free shots to give USIU-A a 4-3 win. Chan finished with 12 points,
Cynthia Irankunda scored nine and Adhiambo had eight. Wanjiku top scored
for the bankers with 16 points while Akinyi scored 13.
Co-op Bank and Strathmore repeat game
Co-op
Bank will meet Strathmore University in the quarterfinal playoffs game
one on Sunday in a repeat of last season’s pairing when bankers won to
make it to last four. Co-op Bank finished second in Western Conference
while Strathmore was third in Eastern Conference.
The
other quarterfinal pairings have Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) playing
Eagle Wings while Equity Bank face Ulinzi Blades.
In the men's
Premier League, Co-operative Bank will play USIU-A in the only playoffs
game slated for Sunday. The bankers were top in Eastern Conference while
the students came fourth in the Western Conference.
Champions
KPA who came second in the Eastern Conference with 42 points will play
against Nakuru Club who finished third in the Western Conference.
Nakuru upset KPA in first leg.
On Friday night, KPA played their
last game of the season beating Ulinzi Warriors 88-74. The soldiers
started poorly as KPA led 32-9 in first quarter. Ulinzi won the second
19-18 but KPA led 50-28 at halftime.
Ancette Wafula who shot 12
points from the three-point line led the comeback for Ulinzi in second
half combining well with Eric Mutoro and Byron Mabonga who wowed fans
with his powerful dunking. KPA won third quarter 21-17 and Ulinzi the
fourth 29-17.
Mutoro top scored for Ulinzi with 22 points and
William Ochieng added 19. Evans Letting scored 22 for KPA with Athiey
Lwal scoring 15 all from the three-point line. Arou Ramadhan who sat out
in second half alongside other key players also scored 15 points.
KPA
scored 18 points from the three-point line and 10 from the free-throw
line while Ulinzi had 27 points coming off three-pointers and nine from
free shots.
Playoffs Quarterfinals Game One (Sunday): KPA
vs Eagle Wings (12p.m., Nyayo gymnasium), Co-op Bank vs Strathmore
University (1:30 p.m.), USIU-A vs Masaku Sparks (3 p.m.), Co-op Bank vs
USIU-A Tigers (4:30).
16 November 2015
GAMBIA : Outing Begins for Basketball Squad in Weekend
By Sulayman Bah
Gambia national basketball team will kick-start their campaign in the FIBA Zone II 3o3 over the weekend.
The team flew out
to Mali Wednesday where they are to taste the deep waters of
international competition again after 37 years of absenteeism.
While details about
who they tussle in the opening stage remained sketchy at press time,
the five-man Gambian side is understood to be prepared by coach Foday
Singhateh.
The squad left via
Brussels Airlines after funding from Gambia National Olympic Committee
while government volunteered to foot the bill of players' allowances.
The Mali event
dubbed, Zone II 303, in its first edition this year being staged by
International Basketball Federation, will be Gambia's first appearance
for over three decades.
The Bamako championship is a two-day event beginning 14th November.
The squad
comprises: Muhammed Kebbeh (SK West), Cherno Bah (YMCA), Abdoulie Jarju
(YMCA), Alasan Mbowe (Brikama) and Coach Foday Singhateh.
Gambia, ranked
T-94, last starred in an international Basketball championship in 1978
in the African Championship where they finished 9th.
The outfit lost all its matches in Group A to opponents, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mauritania.
RWANDA : Espoir On Course to Retain Pre-Season Hoops Tournament
By Richard Bishumba
Jean
Bahufite is confident Espoir will retain the pre-season basketball
tournament title, which kicked-off on Friday and will run until November
22.
The four-time reigning league and playoffs champions, Espoir finished top of pool A to qualify for the semi-finals.
The
Nyamirambo-based club beat United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) 77-47
on Friday before surviving youthful IPRC-South with a narrow 64-58
victory on Saturday at Amahoro indoor stadium.
On Saturday, Espoir
won the first three quarters 18-17, 18-12 and 18-16 before Didier
Bineza's IPRC-South side took final quarter 13-10. IPRC-South were due
to play UGB on Sunday, hoping to win and book their place in the last
four.
"It was tough
overcoming IPRC-South, but that is what we expected when the draws were
made. We want to retain the title and I believe we will do it because we
have what it takes," Bahufite said after Saturday's game.
In Pool B, APR and
Patriots are through to semi-finals after both sides won against
IPRC-Kigali 61-48 and 65-44 on Friday and Saturday respectively. On
Sunday, Patriots defeated APR 70-54 to finish top of the group.
In women's fray,
UR- CASS won 63-50 over IPRC-South on Friday before stunning APR 52-49
on Saturday but the reigning league champions recovered to beat
IPRC-South 50-39 on Sunday.
Sunday
Men
IPRC-South 72-51 UGB
Patriots 70-54 APR
Women
APR 50-39 IPRC-South
Saturday
Men
Espoir 64-58 IPRC-South
Patriots 65-44 IPRC-Kigali
Women
UR-Huye 52-49 APR
Friday: Men
Espoir 77-47 UGB
IPRC-Kigali 48-61 APR
Women
UR-CASS 63-50 IPRC-South
UGANDA : KIU Titans draw first blood against UCU | NBL Playoffs
Photo Credits: kiutitans.com
Francis Sokoroza (2nd L) scored KIU's game wining 3 pointer
M: UCU Canons 63-64 KIU Titans (KIU lead series 1-0)
W: UCU Lady Canons 52-41 A1 Challenge (UCU lead series 1-0)
The five games spread semifinal series between university sides UCU
Canons and KIU Titans promised to be interesting and a close affair.
Game 1 of the series was just that as KIU Titans edged UCU Canons
64-63 on Sunday night at YMCA to the disappointment of UCU’s Coach, Nick
Natuhereza who described as their worst of the season performance wise.
There was not much to separate the sides and it was KIU that started
strong to an 18-13 first quarter. The Canons responded with a 15-13
second and trailed 28-31 at the half.
The second half was a sea saw with neither side taking full control of the game until the final horn.
With the game tied at 61 with under a minute to play, Steven Wundi drove through KIU’s traffic for a go ahead lay-up.
KIU’s coach, Hamza Nyambogo was forced into calling a time out on
return the ball was inbounded to Francis Sokoroza. The guard took a
couple of dribbles to his left and asked Henry Malinga to set up a
screen for him to lose his defender – Wundi.
With Wundi lost in Malinga’s screen, Sokoroza got a meter off to bank a big 3-pointer with 9 seconds to give KIU a 64-63 lead.
Natuhereza then called for a time-out and on return, Ivan Lumanyika’s
mid-range jumper drew steel and Norman Blick picked the rebound and
protected the ball as time ran out.
Sokoroza netted game high 18 points off the bench to lead KIU, Henry
Malinga contributed 14 points and picked 11 rebounds. Chris Omanye and
Blick scored 9 points apiece.
Innocent Odur the only Canon to log double figures had 11 points.
Desmond Owili, Ivan Lumanyika and Jonathan Egau had 9 points each.
Lumanyika hauled in 21 rebounds.
Natuhereza associated the loss to terrible free throw shooting, foul trouble and poor offense.
“We missed free throws, easy opportunities and had foul trouble down
the stretch” he told Kawowo Sports. “When you hold a team to 63 points
should be good enough to win but we shot 2-of-10 from the the 3 point
line and 23-of-47 on the line”
UGANDA : UCU Canons vs. KIU Titans preview | NBL Playoffs
Photo Credits: UCU Basketball
UCU Canons' Desmond Owili posts up KIU's Donat during the league duel at UCU
M: UCU Canons vs. KIU Titans 8:00pm, YMCA
W: UCU Lady Canons vs. A1 Challenge 6:00pm, YMCA
In the off season, UCU Canons lost their best scorer for the past couple of seasons Sudi Ulanga to Power.
At the first look it was easy to think nearly half UCU’s scoring
ability had been taken away but on reflection – when you put into
perspective the two or three screens a defender had to go through to
contest Ulanga’s 3-point shot, you are tempted to think otherwise.
Well, that doesn’t matter now as head coach, Nick Natuhereza spread
his team’s scoring responsibility which got him a second seed finish in
the normal season.
Unlike last year when they face Falcons, UCU Canons rolled over Our
Saviour to make the playoffs semifinal. In sweeping aside Our Saviour,
Canons set up a show down with KIU Titans who saw off Warriors in three
games.
“We are ready! We wait for this every year. This is the stage we work and prepare for every year” Natuhereza said.
In UCU Canons, the Titans will face a side with fresh youthful legs
and a team that scores on transition and coach Hamza Nyambogo
acknowledges the strength of the Canons who will be a different ball
game and believes his team will step it
“We will step it up. UCU are a good team and it will be a good series
which will be about who can handle the nerves and pressure of the
games”
With two very good out side shooters in Innocent Odur and Steven
Wundi as well as size down low in Ivan Lumanyika, Desmond Owili and
Fadir Chuma, KIU's coach has a lot to ponder about in trying to contain
the offensive threat UCU posses.
Key Players
For KIU it has to be Samuel Agutu. While other players have had ups
and downs, Agutu has been KIU's most consistent player. How he goes
around the defense UCU's Brian Namake who has had an MVP season will go a
long way in helping Titans get winning start to the series.
UCU's Brian Namake (R) takes on Samuel Agutu during the regular season game played at UCU (Photo Credits: UCU Basketball)
For UCU Canons, it certainly has to be
Brian Namake. The small forward is one of the best one-on-one defenders
in the league and without doubt he will be in the face of Agutu and
Norman Blick all night. Namake has great vision and passing abilities
will go a long way in helping the Canons' bigs light up the score board.
UGANDA: Tiger Head Power die hard in Game 1 | NBL Playoffs
Photo Credits: John Batanudde
Power's Micheal Makiadi picked game high 14 rebounds
City Oilers 62-58 Tiger Head Power (Oilers lead series 1-0)
Tiger Head Power matched City Oilers in every sense but fell short in
the low scoring first game of the playoffs semifinal on Friday night at
YMCA.
Power’s coach Bernes Akunda couldn’t hide his disappointment as they
had the champions on the ropes – saying they gave away the game.
Generally it was a good game. I have played against them (City
Oilers) and I will give them credit, they win but this one we gave it
away
Power game plan was to suffocate the inside and force City Oilers’
big men outside into taking tough shots. With Oilers frontcourt shot a
combined 16-of-48 from the floor and it had a lot to do with Power’s
interior defense.
“Power were suffocating us on the inside so we need to open up the
game but the shots were not falling and we had to find another strategy
to try and score. It was not easy scoring against them tonight they came
with a lot of energy and I think that played really well for them”
Oilers’ coach Mandy Juruni said.
Power were edged 13-11 in the first quarter but responded with a
15-10 second quarter to lead 26-23 at halftime. Power stretched the lead
up to 9 points (41-32) midway through the third frame but couldn’t
sustain it as Oilers scored 11 unanswered points to close the quarter.
Joseph Ikong (10 points) opened the third quarter with four points as
Power take the lead couldn’t sustain it as it was a sea saw through the
quarter with game tying four times.
Turning Point
With City Oilers leading 57-56 with under a minute to play, Landry
Ndikumana drew the defense to the stripe and threaded a pass to wide
open Geoffrey Omondi at the corner and knocked down a big three. Akunda
called for a Power time out but Micheal Kojo’s And 1 on return was too
little to late.
I am happy for the win but not the performance. Our big players
struggled offensively, Jimmy (Enabu), Kami (Kabange), Jeff and Landry
but with big players you always expect something from them any time and
am glad in the fourth quarter they gave us some crucial points.
Sudi Ulanga had team high 17 points for Power and Micheal Makiadi
contributed 10 points and game high 14 rebounds. Kojo had 9 points.
Despite the tough night, Kami Kabange scored game high 22 points from
23 shots and picked 13 rebounds. Landry Ndikumana contributed 16 points
picked 10 rebounds and assisted 5 baskets
06 November 2015
NIGERIA : First Bank Harmer Energie 105-31
Former Africa
Champions Cup for Women winners, Nigeria's First Bank Basketball Club
yesterday opened their campaign in the championship's zone-3 qualifiers
with an emphatic 105-31 defeat of Energie Basketball Club of Benin
Republic.
The Elephant girls
showed no mercy as they took their opening day opponent to the cleaners
in all four quarters, with Nigeria senior national team All Africa Games
silver medal winner and Afrobasket bronze medalist Nkechi Akashili
posting the championship's high of 38 points.
First Bank tutored
by Coach Peter Ahmedu won the four quarters with scary figure while
restricting the Cotonou-based Energie to a single digit in all the
quarters.
The opening quarter
was almost a family affair with the Nigerian side leading by 9-4 points
in the opening five minutes before pulling away to win the quarter by
17-04 points.
First Bank the most
decorated Nigerian women club with two African titles in 2003 and 2009
gave their opponent a bitter pill to swallow when the won the remaining
three quarters by 29-09, 33-09 and 26-09 points respectively for a final
score-line of 105-31 points.
MALAWI : North Malawi Basketball Giants Battle in G.Y Imports League Final
Two Northern Region
Basketball giants Nkhulande and Moyale will from this afternoon
exchange fire in the finals of the K800,000 G.Y Imports and Exports
Northern Zone Basketball League (Nozoball) slated for Katoto Basketball
Court in the northern city of Mzuzu.
To spice up the final- Bravehearts Basketball Club
Five teams joined the league, which saw the top four qualifying for a mini-tournament to determine two finalists.
Played on
best-of-three basis, in which winners of two out of three matches
proceeded to the final, the mini-tournament paired top team Nkhulande
against third-placed Pistons with runners-up Moyale lining up against
fourth-placed Ekwendeni.
After the
best-of-three ties, Nkhulande and Moyale qualified for the grand final,
which is also expected to be determined by a best-of-three contest
involving the two.
The contest starts
this afternoon with the first of the three matches at the Katoto
Basketball court with the last two clashes scheduled for Sunday morning
and afternoon. Whichever team wins two of the three matches will be
crowned champions of the G.Y. Imports and Exports Nozobal League.
According to
Nozoball vice president Aaron Manda, a cash prize of K300,000, trophy,
medals and two basketballs will be presented to the winners with the
runners-up going away with two balls and silver medals.
Spicing up the occasion on Sunday morning will be an exhibition match involving Lilongwe based Bravehearts and the Pistons.
Managing Director
of G.Y Imports and Exports Griffin Kalua, whose company deals in ICT
equipment, stationery, furniture and other office and household items
said in an interview that the Lilongwe based firm was ready to honour
the champions.
"We are well set to
honour the champions and we urged Northern region basketball enthusiast
to come in their large numbers and witness top-class basketball
action," said Kalua, whose company recently sponsored an All Star
Basketball Championship involving the three basketball zones of Southern
Zone Basketball League, Central Zone Basketball League and Nozoball.
04 November 2015
UGANDA : Dulah issues rallying call as Power stare at elimination
Kampala.
After last year’s 4-0 final series whitewash by
City Oilers, Tiger Head Power sought reinforcements in Sudi Ulanga,
Fahmy Ssebatindira and Michael Makiadi while old boys in Kenneth
Balyejusa, Richard Balemwa returned.
The additions as well as that of coach Robert
Mugabe, however, seem to have yielded little change with a 15-7 record
leaving them as fourth seeds at the end of the regular season. Mugabe
has also since been cast aside in the shape of an unwanted leave.
Crucially, however, they trail Star Times Falcons
1-0 in the Pepsi Best of Three quarterfinal series following Saturday’s
84-80 defeat and are now staring at elimination unless they win today’s
Game Two at YMCA Wandegeya.
“When you play badly you are off, that’s what the
playoffs mean,” joked veteran guard Abdulahi Ramathan, “We need, though,
to show more character,” he added.
Today - Pepsi Fuba playoffs
Quarterfinals - Game Two (MEN)
Tiger Head Power vs. Falcons
(Falcons lead Best of Three series 1-0)
KIU Rangers vs. Magic Stormers
(Rangers lead Best of Three series 1-0)
RWANDA : Hoops league start moved, preseason tourney set for Nov 13
Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) has
postponed the start of the 2015/2016 basketball season from November 14
to 27 with the preseason tournament slated for November 13-22.
The general assembly that sat late September at the FERWABA
headquarters at Amahoro stadium, had initially scheduled the league to
begin on November 14 but due to activities such as the referees clinic, a
workshop for coaches/team managers and the preseason tournament, it was
postponed.
The refresher clinic for referees is set for November 6-8, the
coaches’ and team managers’ workshop will take place on November 8
before the annual preseason competition in both the men and women’s
categories running from November 13 to 22.
“We found it very important to move forward the championship start to
avoid interference. All league sides have been notified. We are
expecting a more competitive and neatly organized league this season.
All eyes are on who will be the next champions,” Mutabazi told Times Sport.
In separate interviews with Times Sport, coach Bob Ngoga of
Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK), trainer Cyrille Kalima of Patriots and
IPRC-South coach Didier Bineza insisted their respective clubs are ready
and their top target is to challenge for the title.
Jean Bahufite’s Espoir are holders of the preseason and league titles
while Ubumwe BBC and APR are the defending champions of the preseason
and league crowns in women’s category respectively.
02 November 2015
KENYA : Struggling Umoja upset Strathmore Blades
Strathmore
University's Racheal Opinya against Ulinzi Rose Aketch in a women's
premier league match at the Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium. (Photo by
Shutterspeed).
Umpire
Joseph Amoko starts the match between Strathmore University and Ulinzi
at the Nyayo stadium gymnasium. (Photo by Shutterspeed).
Strathmore
University's Racheal Opinya against Ulinzi Rose Aketch in a women's
premier league match at the Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium. (Photo by
Shutterspeed).
Umpire
Joseph Amoko starts the match between Strathmore University and Ulinzi
at the Nyayo stadium gymnasium. (Photo by Shutterspeed).
- 1
- 2
Relegation-threatened Umoja beat
playoffs-bound Strathmore Blades 62-54 to increase their chances of
featuring in the Kenya Basketball Federation league for the second
successive season.
It has been a tough debut season for Umoja
who are fighting to avoid relegation. The win against Blades came at an
opportune especially after they trailed 33-36 at halftime.
Blades
won first quarter 20-16 and Umoja the second 17-16. Umoja dominated
in second half winning third and fourth quarters 13-7 and 16-11
respectively. Gilbert Obiero top scored for Umoja with 13 points while
Michael Munene and Kevin Sunguti scored 12 points each.
Jonathan
Kishibagaya top scored for Blades with 14 points. Umoja scored 21
points from the three-point line and nine from the free-throw line while
Blades scored nine points from the arc and nine from free shots.
It
was a bad outing for Blades who lost their second game 62-66 to
Co-operative Bank. The students surrendered a 34-31 halftime lead with
George Okoth scoring highest at 16 points and Joseph Ongoro adding 15.
Job Byron was the top scorer for the bankers with 16 points.
Co-op Bank completed a weekend sweep by beating United States
International University- Africa (USIU-A) 65-59 on Sunday as they
welcomed back Tony Abondo and Brian Busu from injury.
Co-op Bank
led 33-27 at halftime after winning the first quarter 23-9 and USIU-A
the second 18-10. The students won third 16-15 and Co-op Bank the fourth
17-16. Byron top scored for Co-op Bank with 22 points while Alvin
Nyangweso scored 15 points for USIU-A, Joel Ntambwe added 12 and Lionel
Manyara had 11.
Co-op Bank made six three-pointers and three free shots while USIU-A had two three-pointers and 13 free shots.
Lions win at 'death'
Dennis
Opiyo scored a game high 28 points to help Lions beat Zetech University
79-76 at the death. Zetech enjoyed the lead for long period and even
stretched to 10 points in the second quarter.
The game had tied
74-74 with only 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Raymond
Wanjohi made a basket to give Zetech a 76-74 lead but Opiyo made a
three-point shot with 5 seconds to play for Lions to lead 77-76. Marvin
Omondi added two free shots to seal the win for Lions who trailed 34-36
at halftime.
Zetech won first quarter 20-18 but the second
tied at 16-16. Lions took control of the game in third quarter with a
comfortable 26-14 win to open up a 10 points lead at 60-50.
Complacency in the fourth quarter saw the students claw back to tie the
game and eventually win the quarter 26-19 but not enough to overturn the
result. Collins Odhiambo added 21 points for Lions and Victor Ochieng
had 20 after hitting four three-pointers.
Jeremy Opiyo top
scored for Zetech with 21 points. Lions scored 15 points from the arc
and 12 from free shots while Zetech made three three-pointers and nine
free shots.
Zetech beat Kenyatta University Pirates 64-48 on Saturday while Lions won 58-52 against Mennonite.
Pirates
lost second game 55-59 to Strathmore University. Ulinzi Warriors beat
Equity Bank 70-41 as Eric Mutoro top scored with 12 points, William
Ochieng added 10 and Byron Mabonga had nine. Luke Felix scored 12 points
for Equity.
Ulinzi won 29-5 and 18-12 to lead 47-17 at halftime. Equity won the third quarter 17-8 and Ulinzi the fourth 15-7.
Strathmore and Equity Bank win
In the womwn's Premier League, Strathmore University and Equity Bank were victorious.
Strathmore
beat Ulinzi Blades 47-35 after trailing 14-15 at halftime in a low
scoring half. Ulinzi won the first quarter 11-6 and Strathmore the
second 8-4. The students turned out strongly in second half to win 18-12
and 15-8.
Susan Manya top scored for Strathmore with 22
points, scoring 13/18 for the team in third quarter. Esther Butali
scored 12 points for Ulinzi and Rose Aketch added eight.
Hilda
Indasi scored 14 points and Linda Mfuchi 13 as Equity Bank beat KU Oryx
62-27 with quarterly scores of 16-5, 9-9, 16-2 and 21-11. Brenda Mwani
top scored for Oryx with 8 points and Hilda Kunyanga added 6.
Weekend Results:
KU Oryx 27 Equity Bank 62, Blades 62 Co-op Bank 66, Strathmore Swords
47 Ulinzi Blades 35, EMYBA 45 Baraka Xtreme 63, KCA-U 39 MKU Thika 28,
Lions 58 Mennonite 52, JKUAT 65 ANU 86, Upper Hill 20 Nebulas Kakamega
0, Ulinzi Warriors 70 Equity Bank 41, KU Pirates 48 Zetech University
64, Blazers 67 World Hope 76, Strathmore University 59 KU Pirates 55,
Blades 54 Umoja 62, Zetech University 76 Lions 79, USIU Tigers 59 Co-op
Bank 65.
UGANDA : Oilers 1-0
© Kawowo Sports / AISHA NAKATO
Kami Kabange led City Oilers with 19 points against Ndejje
City Oilers 54-47 Ngejje Angels (Oilers lead series 1-0)
All the intrigue of the City Oilers - Ndejje University Angels
playoffs first round Game 1 match-up was gone shortly after halftime.
Ndejje held Oilers to 13 points in the first half, but couldn't stop
anything the back-to-back champions did in the third quarter.
Oilers scored 25 points in the third frame en route to the 54-47 win over the university outfit ay YMCA to take the series lead.
Kami Kabange scored 19 points to lead the way for the champions.
Jimmy Enabu and Landry Ndikumana contributed 13 points each in the low
scoring game.
Shooting Guard, Micheal Otieno matched game high 19 points for
Ndejje. Brian Odur had 9 points while Jonah Otim was limited to 6
points.
Game 3 is on Sunday, November 8 at YMCA.
UGANDA : Owili powers UCU Canons to victory over Our Saviour | NBL Playoffs
Photo Credits: UCU Basketball
Desmond Owili scored 19 points as UCU beat Our Saviour
UCU Canons 78-67 Our Saviour (Canons lead series 1-0)
UCU Canons used a an explosive third quarter to beat Our Saviour in
Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs on Sunday afternoon at YMCA.
Canons trailed Our Saviour 29-27 after the first half but their
scorching third quarter that saw them score a point more than they did
the entire first half overwhelmed Our Saviour who were without Syrus
Kiviiri.
Big man Desmond Owili climbed mountains on the hot afternoon and
threw it down four times. Owili scored game high 19 points to go with 6
rebounds. Jonathan Egau and Stevn Wundi chipped in with 15 and 12 points
respectively.
Guard, Innocent Odur scored 9 points and assisted 7 baskets.
Forward, Yves Kalmbayi paced the league and post season debutants
with 18 points, James Deng added 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Sunday Okot fell short of a triple-double. The guard scored 12 points, picked 7 rebounds and dished out 10 assists.
Game 2 of the series will be played on Sunday, November 8 at YMCA
UGANDA : Enabu stars as Warriors beat KIU Titans | NBL Playoffs
© Kawowo Sports / AISHA NAKATO
Ivan Enabu led Warriors in the 74-69 victory over KIU
KIU Titans 69-74 Stanbic Warriors (Warriors lead series 1-0)
Stanbic Warriors' coach, Ronnie Mutebi said his team was not at it's
best on Sunday night, but Ivan Enabu stepped off the bench and helped
them find a way to win. The KIU Titans haven’t done that since the 77-76
edge of Sharing in regualrs season back in September.
Enabu scored 7 of his team high 20 points in the final three minutes
to help Warriors beat Titans 74-69 to take Game 1 of the best-of-three
series at YMCA.
Warriors got off a 21-18 first quarter, and over matched KIU 20-15 in
the second to got into the half time break up 41-34 thanks to a
consistent offense from the entire cast.
The 2012 champions outscored KIU in the third 21-18 and went into the decisive fourth quarter leading by 10 points.
KIU then stepped up their defense in the fourth quarter as they
switched to a full court press holding Warriors scoreless from the field
for nearly five minutes as the rallied to close the gap and went a head
64-63 on Geofrey Soro's lay up with 5:47.
However the lead did not last, as Steven Okias (15 points) erased it with a lay up and a throw on the other end.
With 2:45, Enabu was thrown back on court in the place of Jude Ochen,
and the guard made Warriors' next 5 points and made an important block
on Sam Agutu's attempt from down town. Warriors led 71-66 with 1:27 when
Soro fouled out and all was nothing but done.
Soro netted game high 23 points and picked 7 rebounds for KIU in a
losing effort. Francs Sokoroza contributed 12 points and Henry Malinga
added 11.
To coach Hamza Nyambogo's disappointment, Norman Blick's struggles continued as the winger scored a mere 2 points in 20 minutes.
Game 2 of the series will be on Friday, November 6 at YMCA.
UGANDA : Falcons edge Power to take Game 1 | NBL Playoffs
Tiger Head Power 80-84 StarTimes Falcons (Falcons lead series 1-0)
StarTimes Falcons and Tiger Head Power played a fast paced,
offensive-heavy end to end game in the opener of the best of three
series on Friday night at YMCA.
Steven Omony poured in game high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Falcons beat Power 84-80 and take the series lead.
Omony was happy for the win but cautioned his teammates saying only half the work is done.
It's a great win for us but the series are not done. It's the
playoffs and anything can happen. We see it as two games still play.
The Falcons played with Power at its desired pace throughout the
first quarter before stepping on the pedal in the next two quarters to
stretch the lead over their opponents to as big as 20 with stellar
inside play from Omony, Ariel Okall and former Power star Isaac Afidra.
Okall contributed 19 points, Afidra had 11 points and 8 rebounds.
Point guard, Joseph Ouma scored 13 points including a free-throw that
put the game out of Power's reach with 9 seconds
In the fourth quarter, Power started to lean on what they do well -
pressing. With Falcons starters playing on four fouls for most of the
period, Power mounted a comeback and trimmed Falcons huge lead to as low
as three before falling short.
Micheal Makiadi shooting from the line. The center led Power with 18 points (Photo Credits: John Batanudde)
Center, Micheal Makiadi scored team high 18 points and picked 6
rebounds for Power. Sudi Ulanga had 14 points while Abdullahi Ramadhan
contributed 11 points including a highlight dunk on Okall as the game
expired. Richard Balwemwa and Joseph Ikong chipped in with 11 points
apiece.
The Falcons held on after giving up a big lead and outlasted Power to get a needed win.
Game 2 of the series is on Wednesday, November 4 at YMCA.
