By Charles Mutebi
IT is the biggest clash in the basketball league but both D’Mark Power and the Mountain Dew Falcons are underplaying the weight of their latest meeting, today at YMCA.
“I don’t think both teams are going to come out fighting tooth and nail,” said Power forward Isaac Afidra. “This is a game where both teams are going to be cautious.”
His Falcons’ counterpart Eric Malinga concurred: “We are taking this game as preparation for the playoffs. It will be good to prepare the young guys in the team.”
Given that both giants are already in the playoffs means they can afford to approach this game with an air of rationalisation.
Yet whatever they say, both teams cannot deny that once the game tips off, all will give way to passion and a desire to match off victorious.
Afidra tried to explain: “Now that is something you can’t explain. The coach may come with his strategy, wanting to rotate players and so on but at the end of the day everyone will want to win.”
The Falcons will be without injured star centre Henry Malinga and are two points behind their table-leading rivals but Eric believes that even without his elder brother, his side can put the heat on Power.
“I don’t think there is a gap between the two clubs,” he argued, “I think we are evenly matched.”
Power are in contention to win the regular season but Afidra maintains that it is winning the championship that ultimately matters.
Spare a minute for the KCC Lions and Knight Riders also playing today. The two clubs are last in the league and look certain to be relegated. Victory will bring a flicker of hope for one and a death sentence for the other.
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MTN-FUBA League
Today at YMCA
Men’s Division 1
Power v Falcons
Lions v Riders
Women
Rangers v Sparks