by Sande Bashaija
Wandegeya
Today at YMCA (Game 2)
Canons v A-1 Challenge 6pm
Warriors v Falcons 8pm
Friday (Game 3)
KIU v DMark Power 8pm
Leopards v Rangers 6pm
Warriors will not put the foot off the pedal even as they convincingly defeated Falcons in Game One of the MTN-Fuba League semi-final play-off series on Saturday night.
The two sides renew their rivalry in Game Two at YMCA Wandegeya tonight and Warriors will be aiming to take a comfortable lead in the best-of-five series. “We are taking every game as it comes and can’t relax because of this victory,” Warriors coach Gad Eteu explained after watching his team outclass Falcons 89-74 at YMCA.
The Mountain Dew-sponsored Falcons struggled to match Warriors in that game but are a mentally stronger side. The six-time champions recovered from 2-0 to defeat Warriors 3-2 and snatch the title in 2007. “I know what they (Falcons) are capable of doing and can’t take them for granted,” Eteu, who returned from a refresher course in USA recently, acknowledged.
After over a month-long knee injury lay-off, Henry Malinga played a mediocre part while his brother Eric sat out Game One with a sprained ankle. The duo should, however, be fit to lead Falcons’ charge tonight.
“The pain is gone. I just need to get my rhythm back,” Henry said of the injury he suffered against Ndejje Angels on September 23.
Meanwhile, former women champions A-1 Challenge will close in on a final slot if they overcome title holders UCU Lady Canons in the day’s opening game.
A-1 Challenge recorded a slim 59-58 victory in the opener although Lady Canons filed a petition seeking to overturn the result on grounds that match officials swung the game in favour of their opponents.
The battle between the two sides is expected to be as intriguing as they come.