Men:
Uganda87-48 Tanzania
Women:
Kenya72-32 Tanzania
Today – Zone V
Men:
Kenya v Rwanda (7pm)
Tanzaniav Burundi (3pm)
Women:
Kenya v Rwanda(5pm)
Uganda v Tanzania (1pm)
Ethiopia v Burundi (11am)
Just when Ugandan players were faced with a repeat of history, they found the right gear to thrash Tanzania 87-48 at the Fiba Africa Zone V Nations Championship at Amahoro Stadium gymnasium in Kigali, Rwanda.
That victory on Thursday night ensured that Uganda won a game at the biennial event having failed to register such a result when the tournament was hosted by Rwanda two years ago. The men’s rode on the back of a complete dominance of the board to pick 47 rebounds as opposed to Tanzania’s 30.
As captain, Stephen Omony led from the front with 23 points and seven rebounds before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. It was over before it even started with Uganda cruising through the four periods 18-8, 23-14, 14-10 and 32-16 respectively against the smaller Tanzanians.
Eric Malinga scored 13 points and eight rebounds to crown a tournament where many players wore black armbands to mourn the death of his mother last week. Isaac Afidra (10) too finally shed some skin following a dismal showing curtailed by minimal playing time. The Uganda women’s team faces Tanzania on the final day of the competition this evening. Kenya and Rwanda will fight for the lone men’s and women’s qualifications slots for the Afrobasket and All Africa Games.