By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo (email the author)
Posted Sunday, April 25 2010 at 00:00
Results – Friday
Power 87-91 UCU
Marines 74-71 Miracle
Women
Stormers 69-71 Mak Sparks
Today at YMCA
Riders v Warriors (5.30pm)
Stone v Rhino (2.30pm)
Planets v Bush Court (1pm)
Kings v Shooters (11.30am)
Women
KIU v Nabisunsa (4pm)
Had it not been a National Council of Sports (NCS) resolution, UCU Canons, KCC Lions and Knight Riders would have been relegated from MTN-Fuba basketball league division I at the end of last season.
The stay of execution has given all three clubs a new lease of life and UCU made the most of it with a nerve-wrecking 91-87 victory over DMark Power in the former’s first game of the season at YMCA court on Friday night.
Momentum swung with every transition but UCU had the last laugh as the recovered from an 11-point deficit with less than four minutes of the fourth quarter which they outmuscled the 2008 champions 27-17.
Power, also finalists last year, looked uninspired in the absence of guard Norman Blick and coach Andrew Baziira.
The Enabu brothers, Ivan (6) and Jimmy (8) ran show for UCU but were eclipsed by Power’s Emmanuel (12), the youngest from the basketball family.
“It was the first time to play with Jimmy on the same team in a league game. Emma too had a good game,” Ivan, the more heralded of the three, told Sunday Monitor.
Joseph Ikong sunk an inconsequential game-high 24 while Kenyan twin brothers Geoffrey Omondi (19) and Robert Mugabe (13) combined for 32 of UCU’s points as Kennedy Mwambi blew hot and cold for his 14.
Earlier, Philip Wakimwero scored 24 points as Nkumba Marines edged Miracle Eagles 73-71.
Marines had lost their opening game to Ndejje Angels while Miracle beat Knight Riders last Wednesday.
Makerere Sparks win
Makerere Sparks picked a 71-69 win over Magic Stormers in the women’s game. In today’s action, champions Warriors will seek to forget an opening day loss to Power when they face Riders.