Basketball in Africa

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Kampala

Results – Friday
Miracle 52-77 Falcons
KIU 63-68 Power
Women
UCU 67-45 KIU
Today at YMCA
St. Michael v Ndejje (5.30pm)
Women: UCU v Amazon (4pm)

KIU Titans came within a whisker of causing their second major upset in the MTN-Fuba League on Friday but still fell short. Barely a week after being edged out by Mountain Dew Falcons, KIU went down 63-68 to DMark Power on Friday at YMCA, court, Wandegeya.

Coach Nimrod Kaboha’s side pinned Power, the 2008 champions, in the first three quarters but couldn’t finish the job as they trailed 13-21 in the penultimate period. Joseph Ikong (15) and Norman Blick (12) led Power’s charge with crucial blocks at regular intervals while Robert Mubiru (6) produced a rebound master class. “At some point, someone had to charge but in all, it was good team display,” Ikong noted.
Though coach Andrew Baziira was missing in the former champions’ dugout, Isaac Afidra, last year’s regular season MVP, struggled on his return from a troublesome calf injury. “KIU is very good defensive side and no one can undermine that,” Afidra commented about his former side. Man-of-the-match Brian Wati sunk 15 points as KIU led by three points (50-47) heading the fourth quarter where they choked.

Earlier, Falcons put up yet another authoritative performance to dispatch Miracle Eagles 77-52. Kenyan Richard Osano Omondi finally shed some skin with a game-high 26 points. Mike Buzangu added 21 and Miracle’s Francis Kasekende had (11) , whie Felix Olaba picked 12 points.