Tomorrow at Lugogo
Falconsv Power (8pm)
Women:
KIU v UCU (6pm)
(Power, UCU lead series 2-1)
Today
Div. II:
MBC v Rhino (8pm)
Div. III:
Kings v UCU JV (6pm)
(Rhino, UCU JV lead series 1-0)
Not often do DMark Power and UCU Lady Canons find themselves with so much in common and it’s not only because both sides are one victory away from a place in the MTN-Fuba League play-offs final.
Two years ago, the duo shared the podium as champions in the respective divisions which greatly raised expectations only to plummet in similar fashion in the subsequent season.
UCU went down 2-1 in the semifinals to eventual losing finalists A1 Challenge whereas Power were slightly better as they lost 4-1 in the final to Kyambogo Warriors.
Both made a swift return to the best-of-five semifinal play-offs and share an identical 2-1 lead in their respective series ahead of game four tomorrow evening at the MTN-NCS Arena Lugogo.
“The big difference between now and last year is that we are ahead. We desperately need to win,” UCU skipper Frances Nabulobi said prior to game four against KIU Rangers.
She is trying hard not dream about the title just yet. “Winning the crown would be very good but we are not playing as well as we would like to which calls for more work to get there,” the former season top scorer, who sat out last term with a knee problem, added.
Power repeat?
Leading archrivals Mountain Dew Falcons, Power have a chance to repeat their 3-1 victory over the same opposition in the 2008 finals. “Everyone (in the team) understands that it’s play-offs and any moment can win or lose you a game,” Norman Blick, the Power captain, said. He has been in inspirational form and will once again be key to their chances.
Elsewhere, the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (Fuba) handed out one-match bans to two players prior to last night’s game four between champions Warriors and UCU Canons.
Warriors’ Jude Ochen and UCU’s Robert Mugabe were suspended for instigating the fracas that engulfed game three last week and held up play for several minutes.