Canons and Power rest on the edge

Nov 14, 2008

GOING into Game 2 of their best of three semi-final playoffs today, Sadolin Power and the UCU Canons are on the brink of either falling off or qualifying for the final.

By Charles Mutebi

MTN-FUBA PLAY-OFFS
Semifinals Game 1 results
Men
Canons 76 Power 75
Div2: Riders 90 Berkley 75
Div3: St. Michael 98 UCU 75
Women
Canons 70 Rangers 53
Today: Game 2

GOING into Game 2 of their best of three semi-final playoffs today, Sadolin Power and the UCU Canons are on the brink of either falling off or qualifying for the final.

The Canons edged out a fiercely contested Game 1 with a single point on Wednesday night, rendering today’s match a no-prediction-affair.

Power coach Andrew Bazira knows that only a win in today’s game can offer any realistic hope of progress to the final. However, he concedes that it will be an equally hard-fought affair.

“It will be a hard game but the good thing is that we know what errors cost us the game last night,” he said.

“I think they will be under more pressure than us because they know we are going to comeback fighting.”

A win for Power will level the series paving way for a climax in Game 3.

Brothers Geoffrey Omondi and Robert Mugabe, with a team-high 17 and 11 points respectively, called the tune of UCU’s offence, often exposing their rivals’ defence.
In fact, Canons appeared to have closed it out when they built a 51-38 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter, partly due to their centre Phillip Odur’s efficient rebounding that contributed 13 points.

But led by skipper Isaac Afidra (22 points) Power reduced the margin to seven points to end the third quarter at 48-55.

With just three seconds left, Ben Komakech’s attempted buzzer-beater in the final quarter could have won the match for Power after their fourth quarter recovery saw them tie the scores at 72 apiece with 42 seconds left.

UCU’s ladies team also defeated KIU Rangers 70-53 in Game 1 on the same night. In the men’s division 2 Knight Riders dispatched Berkley 70-53 and in Division III, St. Michael outwitted UCU JV 98-75.

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