By Charles Mutebi
It was business as usual as the Kyambogo Warriors and Falcons started their respective 2012 FUBA Playoffs journeys ahead of a potential meeting in the men’s top division Finals.
Henry Malinga displayed his postseason character with a team-high 13 points as the Warriors defeated the Victoria Heaters 75-53 in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals Sunday at the MTN Arena.
The Falcons equally took a 1-0 series lead after thumping the lethargic Ndejje Angels 70-40, with the legendary Steven Omony draining a game-high 16 points.
Abdullah Ramadan added 12 for the Falcons, who confronted a Ndejje side painfully missing talismanic captain Geoffrey Soro. Jonah Otim led Walker Obedi’s Angels with 13 points.
The Warriors did not have it as easy as the Falcons but there was never any doubt they would defeat Victoria, who were led by Derrick Mbusi with a game-high 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Norman Blick and Michael Karuiki scored 12 and 11 apiece for Mandy Juruni’s Kyambogo, who are looking forward to the return of Eric Malinga.
The 2011 regular-season MVP was sidelined with a knee injury early in the season but he is line to return, possibly in Game 2 on Saturday. “My knee has got better and I am ready for Game 2,” Eric told the New Vision on Monday.
“It is not completely healed but it is in a condition where I can give good minutes to the team.”
2012 FUBA PLAYOFFS
Best-of-three quarters
Game 1 - Men’s division 1
Kyambogo 75 Victoria 53
Falcons 70 Ndejje 40
Women
KCCA 57 Sparks 36
Men’s Division 2 - Game 2
Rhinos 71 M’ndye 42
(Rhinos win series 2-0)
Diamonds 77 City Oil 65
(Series tied 1-1)
Sharing 77 B/Court 65
(Series tied 1-1)
UCU 54 Gulu 52
(UCU win series 2-0)
Men’s division 3
Ssaku 49 Hovers 42
(Ssaku win series 2-0)
S/Force 47 Phen’s 40
(Force win series 2-0)
Emperors 52 Jackets 27
(Series tied 1-1)
UMU 68 Livingstone 66
(Series tied 1-1)
