Kampala
Today at Lugogo
Falcons v Power (8pm)
Women
KIU v UCU (6pm)
(Power and UCU lead series 1-0)
Once upon a time, Mountain Dew Falcons were known for returning from the dead enroute to some of their most memorable six MTN-Fuba League titles.
Now, Falcons need to rekindle some of those old memories when they face DMark Power in game two of the best-of-five semifinals at the MTN-NCS Arena Lugogo this evening.
Power rode on a late charge to take the first contest 76-70 last Friday and Falcons know that every minute counts as it did when they came from 2-0 down to defeat Kyambogo Warriors 3-2 in the 2007 final. “The game was ours and we threw it away. We need to correct all the mistakes we made because I believe this is going to be a long series,” Falcons assistant coach Michael Mureithi said adamantly. Organisation has been their Achilles heel as unpaid wages have left them tittering on the brink of crisis.
Omondi charged
Nonetheless, Kenyan forward Richard Osano Omondi has looked charged as he collected 13 points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Kenyan coach Smarts Olumbo is expected to return to the bench for the first game in the post-season but Omondi will need more support from the reborn Sam Obol and guard Sudi Ulanga against a side who might have two-time MVP Norman Blick fully recovered.
Blick, a three-time champion with Sky Jammers and Nkumba Marines (two), struggled with a wound on his palm last week as Isaac Afidra, Robert Mubiru, Boniface Okello and Ben Komakech took charge. “I don’t think we played to our full potential. This team can get better,” Power coach Bernice Ankunda said after their victory in which shooting guard Joseph Ikong was almost inexistent with two points.
In the early game, 2008 women’s champions UCU Lady Canons clash with KIU Rangers with the former leading 1-0.