By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Friday results
Power 73-72 Warriors
Marines 74-81 Ndejje
W: UCU 60-56 KCC
Today at YMCA
St. Michael v Falcons (5.30pm)
Rocks v Vegetarian (2.30pm)
Crane High v UCU JV (1pm)
Bush Courts v Sky Jammers
Stormers v Ssaku (10am)
W: UCU v Nabisunsa (4pm)
Champions Warriors might have dominated the pre-season headlines in the MTN-Fuba basketball league but DMark Power mean business. On Friday, Power grabbed the early bragging rights with a nail-biting 73-72 victory over Warriors in the season opener at a packed YMCA court, Wandegeya.
From the onset, Power’s body language told the whole story as Warriors, donning their new blue/white strip, failed to cope with the sheer pace of the game gifting the former a 15-0 lead inside four minutes and 48 seconds.
Nerves and anxiety were briefly calmed by Michael Kariuki, signed from KIU Titans on Thursday, sunk the last of three free throws after five minutes and 16 seconds for Warriors to trouble the scorer.
“Most of players are new and it will take time to gel. The slow start wasn’t nerves but about players understanding each other’s style,” Warriors coach Gad Eteu, whose team recovered to tie the game at 62-all with five minutes and 15 seconds to go, told Sunday Monitor.
Eteu paraded all his five new signings but only former KIU star Makmot Orom stood out with a team-high 15 points. The Malinga brothers, Henry (11) and Eric (13), who dominated the news after leaving Mountain Dew Falcons, had 11 and 13 points respectively. Kariuki could only manage 9 while Pascal Alule had two.
In comparison, Power’s new recruits, Robert Mubiru (6), Boniface Okello (6), Isaac Lugudde (13) and Carrol Bisereko (0) were not much better.
Mubiru and Okello joined coach Andrew Baziira’s side from Miracle Eagles. Lugudde left Falcons Bisereko faced his former side on Friday.
Ikong, Blick effect
Joseph Ikong (16) and Norman Blick (15) led Power’s charge but reigning MVP Ronnie Kasewu scored only seven points on a disappointing night for Warriors.
In today’s games, Falcons, seeking to add to their six titles, start their season against newly-promoted St. Michael High School at YMCA.
Having lost Steven Omony, Falcons’ venture into the unknown is fueled by Rwandese stars Karim Musi, Mike Buzangu, Didier Gahorani, Cedric Sinarinzi and Bienvenu Ndandu, all of whom were unveiled on Friday after crossing from army side APR.
However, last year’s Zone V MVP Richard Osano Omondi is the other attraction.