Basketball in Africa

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo

Friday’s results
M: Power 80-93 Warriors
W: A1 39-51 KCC

Today at YMCA
M: Falcons v Miracle (7.30pm)
W: UCU v Gladiator (5.30pm)
Division Two
MBC v Rez Life (3.30pm)
Diamonds v Kings (1.30pm)
Division Three
UPDF v Planets (11.30am)
Stone v Jackets (9.30am)

If Bernice Ankunda carried any book to DMark Power practice in the past week, each page of it had rebound written somewhere.

He knew the need for an anti-dote to negate Kyambogo Warriors’ size advantage in the MTN-Fuba League Division One clash at YMCA clash on Friday night.
By tip-off, none of his players had got message and even if they recovered later to contest on the inside, Warriors coasted to a deserved 93-80 triumph.
“There was a bit of individualism which cost us and many players rushed with the crowd (screaming more) for Warriors,” Ankunda told Sunday Monitor.
Warriors edged the boards 48-46 mainly through Ronnie Kasewu. The former MVP looked possessed in playing the entire 40 minutes to reap 20 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.
“Even when I was not doing well offensively (in the first two victories), I knew my shots would start dropping,” Kasewu said. The bravado was surely earned as Warriors dominated three of the four quarters 24-18, 24-17, 18-24 and 27-21 respectively.

Four fouls
A tough outing for Power’s offense precipitated into point guard Ben Komakech (9) accumulating four fouls with 3.32 left in the third quarter.
That limited his time on court leaving Isaac Afidra to fend for his teammates with an inconsequential 19 points and 13 boards as Power lost for the first time this season.
In the end, none stood as tall as Michael Kariuki. His 22 points and two blocks off the bench left so much carnage gave Warriors slight revenge for last year’s finals loss.
“This is just another league game even though it brings confidence to beat one of the best teams. We need to keep working to improve,” said Mandy Juruni, the Warriors coach.