by Sande Bashaija
Wandegeya
Yesterday’s results
Falcons 86-85 Newstars
KPA 67-69 Marines
KCB 91-63 ABC
Today at YMCA (12pm-8pm)
Semifinals
Falcons won’t ask for more from Stephen Omony. The star player Thursday night ‘accounted’ for the Shs72m spent on his signature by helping Falcons edge Burundi side Newstars 86-85 in a Sprite Zone 5 Africa Championship encounter at YMCA Wandegeya.
The former PSL Hawks star played like a possessed man, on a night Falcons needed victory to survive elimination from the Africa Club Championships qualifying tournament. At the start, it was all Newstars. The Rwandans overran Falcons 26-19 in the first quarter and went into recess carrying a 50-38 advantage. That looked like a hell of a mountain for Falcons to climb. But not with Omony on court.
The 29-year-old star pulled down a tournament high 34 points, 18 of them from outside the arc as the Ugandans rallied to outlast Newstars 24-14, 24-21 in the last two sessions. “We had no option but to dig deep,” Omony commented at the end of the game that equally brought out the best from local fans.
It was a pressure cooker for both teams. After surrendering their lead, Newstars clawed back and were in touching distance of victory going into the final five minutes of the game (74-68). A charged Omony sunk in two back-to-back three pointers and converted one on the line for Falcons to take a one-point lead (75-74). That was the turning point although Newstars never ran out of steam.
They kept John Ssimbwa’s team under check and nearly sent the game into overtime only for Hirwa Blaise (12 points) to miss one shot on the charity line at the end of regulation time.
Power interruptions
Henry Malinga, ejected towards the end of fourth quarter, pulled down 24 points while his brother Eric contributed 11 in one of the most memorable victories for Falcons. Christian Butoyi garnered 8 points but Newstars must be ruing their missed chances. The power interruptions in the last session, too, contributed to the drama on the night but luck was clearly on Falcons’ side. “We gave it our best,” Falcons patron Ssimbwa said. The tournament that ends tomorrow is co-sponsored by BroadBand Company, Kenya Commercial Bank, Sanyu FM and KCC Central Division.
The semifinals are due today at YMCA Wandegeya.