UGANDA : Rangers in precarious battle for play-off berth

by Sande Bashaija
Wandegeya

Today
Diamond v Biston 10am
Gulu v MBC Rocks 1pm
Kings v Sharing 2:30pm
Crane High v St Michael
Women
Stormers v Rangers 4pm

Much of the attention has been paid to the men’s MTN-League topflight division where four teams are all fighting for the fourth and sole remaining play-offs position.

Miracle Eagles, Kampala International University (KIU), Nkumba Marines and Ndejje University Angels have kept basketball fans on their toes with their exciting and unpredictable performances.

All sides still have a realistic chance of making the postseason. The successful team will join DMark Power, Warriors and Falcons in the semi-final play-offs.

There are equally intriguing duels in the women’s division that can stir some adrenaline. The hitherto sleepy Makerere University Sparks have woken up and seem ready to displace KIU Rangers from the top four, a zone they have occupied comfortably for the past three years. Champions in 2003, Sparks have not stepped on the podium since 2006. But the Makerere side are now tied on 26 points with Rangers from 16 games.

Sparks defeated the battle-hardened Magic Stormers 67-49 on Wednesday to dethrone Rangers from fourth on points scored. Now Rangers face Stormers at YMCA today, well aware that any slip-up will play in Sparks’ advantage. The Kansanga-based Rangers will be desperate to win this before facing Sparks next Friday in what could decide either team’s fate.