Results – Friday
Falcons 72-74 Power
KCC 72-94 Riders
Women
Sparks 56-68 KIU
For a moment, YMCA court, Wandegeya was the closest one could get to the noise levels of the opening day at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa on Friday.
Not many fans carried the vuvuzela, the symbol of this World Cup, but nonetheless DMark Power’s narrow 74-72 victory over Mountain Dew Falcons in the MTN-Fuba League was well punctuated by awesome support.
In a game where physical approach and psyche proved to be key ingredients, Power stunned Falcons with not only their usual speedy trainsitional play but also willingness compete in the paint against their much bigger opponents.
Coach Andrew Baziira (work) and Isaac Afidra (calf injury) remain absent but Power’s big men, Robert Mubiru and David Kiberu, were on hand to deliver Falcons’ first defeat in seven.
The pain in Norman Blick’s injured left hand was temporarily forgotten as he scored a game-high 19 points. Ben Komaketch (12), enigmatic centre Mubiru (13) and Joseph Ikong (11) joined the double-digit frenzy.
Lacking a productive point guard, Falcons struggled to create plays. Nonetheless, Richard Osano Omondi (18), Bienvenu Ngandu (13), Sudi Mulunga (11) and Peter Elungat (10) frightened the fragile Power hearts.
Earlier, Knight Riders eased their relegation fears with a 94-72 win over fellow strugglers KCC Lions. In the women’s division, KIU Rangers beat Makerere Sparks 68-56