KIU face early elimination from playoffs

By Charles Mutebi 

National Basketball Playoffs

Men

Power 90 Rhinos 81

Falcons 88 UCU 77

Warriors 67 Ndejje 43

Women

UCU 82 Nabisunsa 46

KCCA 77 Gladiators 33

Stormers 69 Sparks 55

Today, YMCA

Game 2

Women: A1 v Rangers

(A1 lead 1-0)

Men: City Oil v KIU

(City Oil lead 1-0)

FUBA Div 1 Playoffs

Men

JV 73 Sharing 62

Gulu 74 Rez Life 59

Diamond 85 KU 83

Stormers 70 Riders 58

IN the most important game of their season, the KIU Titans played without the defensive discipline that is their most defining characteristic. 

As a result, KIU’s season is on the precipice. Fail to defeat City Oil in Game 2 of their best of three National Basketball League playoff quarterfinals today at the YMCA, and KIU’s season will be over. 

City Oil thumped KIU 76-56 in Game 1 on Friday thanks to a suffocating zone defence that chocked the life out their opponent’s offense. KIU coach Nimrod Kaboha lamented his team’s failure to counter City Oil’s tactics but he knows only one response will suffice. 

“At this point, it is not about basics or confidence,” said Kaboha. “It is about how much fight we have left in us. We have to come out fighting with everything we have. ” 

For their part, City Oil will fancy their chances of wrapping up the series against a team that is without crucial big men Edwin Kateregga and Donat Habiyambere. 

“What do you do? You have to fight,” mused Kaboha about the absence of the two players, the former through injury and the latter as a result of travelling back to his homeland Burundi. 

Kaboha’s day of reckoning is not restricted to the Titans but extends to the Rangers, KIU’s female team. The Rangers are also 1-0 down in their series against A1 Challenge and must significantly raise their level to stay alive.