Lugogo
Today at Lugogo
Power v Warriors (8pm)
Women
UCU v A1 Challenge (6pm)
(Power, UCU lead series 2-0)
The mood inside and later on outside the MTN Arena Lugogo on Sunday night told more than half the story as to where DMark Power and Warriors were headed.
Power star Afidra (R) tries to block Warriors’ Abdullahi in game two on Sunday.
PHOTO: I. KEZAALA.
Following Power’s 71-65 victory to take a 2-0 best-of-seven final series lead, Isaac Luggude ran onto the floor to lift 2008 MVP Ben Komakech shoulder high in celebration as if the title was won.
A few metres away, Warriors sat in their dugout for several minutes reminiscing about what had hit them having leg by 17 points before a momentum changing third quarter.
Knowing they are in big trouble ahead of game three this evening at the same venue, the champions held a muted meeting where even a crawling cockroach could be heard whereas Power had a noisy evaluation in the 11pm cold. And the signs are not good at all with the latter showing lots of depth.
Responsibility has been shared so well that Joseph Ikong finally came to the party in the post-season with a game-high 20 points. “I think we can sweep Warriors (4-0). All we need is to stick to what we have been doing this season and improve our defence,” Ikong said.
The confidence oozing through the 2008 MTN-Fuba League champions made a lot of sense to Warriors’ coach Gad Eteu as his side have failed to beat the full court press so far. “Our character is being tested. We really threw game (two) away and must pick ourselves up,” a distraught Eteu noted.
Greatly exposed
Warriors’ big men Michael Kariuki, Henry and Eric Malinga have been far too inconsistent. This has greatly exposed guards Abdullahi Ramadhan and Ronnie Kasewu though the latter mirrors a player desperate to surrender the MVP title he currently holds.
On the other hand, Isaac Afidra is arguably having his best play-offs while Power teammates Robert Mubiru and skipper Norman Blick have made contributions when needed.
In the early game, UCU Lady Canons – in a position similar to Power’s – can take another gigantic stride towards reclaiming the title with victory over A1 Challenge. Since losing to A1 in the regular season, the university team have barely put a finger wrong. Lorraine Akinyi and Anastasia Njeri are particularly menacing.
A1 Challenge coach Hamza Nyambogo’s chance lies in limiting the Kenyan duo’s influence like his team briefly did in game two to lead by 22 points in the third before succumbing 55-65.