Women playoffs on role

Oct 29, 2003

THE dawn of a new season starts Sunday as the women join their male counter parts in the MTN FUBA basketball 2003 league playoffs at the YMCA.

By Gloria Kyomugisha

THE dawn of a new season starts Sunday as the women join their male counter parts in the MTN FUBA basketball 2003 league playoffs at the YMCA.

LadyBucks team, the women’s defending champions face stiff challenges to their hold after a tough regular season.

Four teams from the seven-team women’s league qualified for the playoffs at the end of the regular season and are now bent on taking the game to a higher level where it is a survival for the fittest.

This season’s playoff matchups are more interesting and unpredictable as the teams fight to get a chance to represent the country in next year’s East, Central and Southern Africa club championships slated for Seychelles.

MUK-Sparks v Amazon Rhinos
League debutantes Sparks embark on their first ever playoff appearance. The team led the table from June till the end of the regular season where they remained invincible.

Showing an exciting up tempo, end-to-end style during the season, Sparks have an exposure advantage after finishing second in the Safaricom National tournament in Mombasa.

Still, they should not write off Amazon Rhino that is playing in its seventh playoff and knows more about the pressures and executions involved.

Identified by their speed trademark and wide defense, Amazon Rhino has shown tremendous play against a tough schedule. This is a playoff matchup that could very well go either way.

A-1 Challenge v L. Bucks
This could very well be the typical 2 v 3 playoff matchup. The last time the two met at such a critical moment was in 2001 during the finals of the league. LadyBucks won their fourth trophy when A-1 boycotted game five of the finals.

Head coach Nimrod Kaboha returns to the playoff scene with one of the best passing teams in the league.

Featuring quality veterans and excellent size, LadyBucks are poised for a strong playoff season in which they hope to capitalise on their home court advantage.

A-1 Challenge has revamped its roster, showing positive signs performing well to finish the regular season in second place.

With balanced front and backcourts, A-1 hopes to put the 2001 mistakes aside as they resume the playoffs afresh after a one-year break.

Coach Richard Aciko is unlikely to have forward Viola Akuma back from injury as he looks to help the team to the next level.

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