by Sande Bashaija from http://www.monitor.co.ug
Wandegeya
Saturday results
Warriors 89-74 Falcons
Heaters 64-68 St Michael
Sharing 52-49 TLC
Women
A-1 Challenge 59-58 UCU
Stephen Okias put on a man-of-the-match performance and helped Warriors take a 1-0 lead in the MTN-Fuba League best of five semi-final play-off series. Okias, a three-time league top scorer, posted a game high 21 points as Warriors outclassed record champions Falcons 89-74 at YMCA Wandegeya on Saturday night.
Women reigning champions Lady Canons, however, suffered a 58-59 heartbreaking loss to A-1 Challenge despite a spirited display. Of late, Warriors having been relying on Tanzanian import Abudullahi Ramadhan (12 points) for results, but on a night when he looked more of an average player, Okias upped his game.
Thanks to their squad depth and the return of head coach Gad Eteu from USA, Warriors were the better side by far throughout the game and outsmarted Falcons in every department. An 18-14 first quarter lead was increased to 37-28 at halftime and Falcons were left to play catch up.
They had to do that without their captain Eric Malinga, sidelined by an ankle injury and a half-fit Henry Malinga (8). Shs72m signing Stephen Omony showed some signs of brilliance with 20 points and Sam Obol contributed 14 as Falcons won the third session 23-20 but later switched off in the fourth to lose 32-23.
Even after the victory, Eteu still remembers how Falcons turned around a 2-0 deficit to pip Warriors to the title two years ago. “We won’t get carried away. It’s still too early,” the Warriors coach noted. “I know what Falcons are capable of doing.” Game Two is on Wednesday and the pressure is now on Falcons to try and level the series. “We failed to stick to our strategy today but I believe we shall come on good in the next game,” Falcons’ star Omony promised.