by Sande Bashaija
Wandegeya
Sunday results
Power 75-81 Warriors
KCC 66-65 A-1 Challenge
Tomorrow at YMCA
A-1 v Leopards 6pm
Warriors v Power 8pm
For once in this year’s MTN-Fuba League play-off series, there was breathing space at YMCA, Wandegeya on Sunday night. The sport’s governing body, Fuba, and black market ticket vendors must have banked less than usual, thanks to the English Premiership clash between Arsenal and Chelsea. You’ve got to feel sorry for DMark Power fans who have a soft spot for Arsenal.
Sunday night must have been hell for them. Power were subjected to a 71-85 defeat and the league title looks destined for Kyambogo after Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the seven-game series.
“We are determined to wrap it up on Wednesday (tomorrow),” Warriors’ star guard Ronnie Kasewu promised. Warriors need not to be reminded that that they have lost to Power five times this season. They perfectly know the threat posed by their opponents and that’s probably why they have shown enviable agility in the past three games.
The Sunday clash was evenly contested from the onset, first quarter ending all-square at 25 and the second 19-16 in favour of the Warriors. Twice in the final two quarters, Power established a nine-point lead and the general feeling was that the champions were finally getting things right. But their defensive frailties, plainly exposed by Warriors in the previous two games cropped up again.
Afidra’s three
But even after losing their lead in the final session, Power’s battle-hardened star Isaac Afidra made a steal and completed a three-point play to level the scores at 75-all with one minute and 47 seconds on the clock.
However, one forgotten man – Carrol Bisereko – a former champion with Nkumba Marines – grabbed double three-pointers and Steven Okias (17) killed off any Power recovery hopes with another at the buzzer, sending the partisan crowd into uncontrollable frenzy.
Kenyan Martin Okwako, who has consistently troubled Power in the series, top scored with 27, Kasewu grabbed 14 and Ramathan Abudallahi added 10 points to keep Warriors’ pursuit for a maiden championship on track.
Afidra’s 20 points and Norman Blick’s 18 did little to salvage Power’s battered confidence. Meanwhile, Josephine Namayega missed two crucial free throws that would have won the game for A-1 Challenge or sent it to overtime, handing KCC a 3-1 lead in the women’s final series.