Canons, Warriors lead playoff charge
Oct 01, 2013
THE competition has been so stiff that record-champions Falcons, distracted by financial woes, find themselves seventh with three games left
By Charles Mutebi
Airtel National Basketball League
Women
KIU 58 Nabisunsa 47
Stormers 65 Sparks 40
Men
UCU 79 Rhinos 70
Warriors 113 Heaters 63
Ndejje 65 Vegetarian 53
KIU 82 Miracle 46
FUBA Div 1
Women
St. Michael 30 Javon 16
Amazon 57 YMCA 51
Angels w/o Beebwa
Men
Makindye 83 Stormers 71
Sharing 56 Makindye 46
Riders 66 Ssaku 46
Diamonds 45 UMU 42
KU 55 JV 54
FUBA Development League
Livingstone 87 Makerere 45
St. Michael 61 Jammers 51
Tigers 58 Hovers 50
UPDF 60 Hovers 55
YMCA 58 TLC 47
THE UCU Canons and Riham Warriors moved to the top of Airtel National Basketball League (ANBL). More interestingly, the Ndejje University Angels and KIU Titans moved closer.
And that has been the story of the 2013 ANBL regular season. The gulf between the giants and the mid-table commoners has been so small that after Sunday’s matches only three points separate the top six teams.
The competition has been so stiff that record-champions Falcons, distracted by financial woes, find themselves seventh with three games left.
Lying above them, teams like City Oil (6th), KIU (5th) and Ndejje (4th) - none of whom are worthy to untie the historical sandals of the Falcons.
But Ndejje and KIU have been good value for their positions and the two university sides racked up their 14th and 13th victories respectively this season.
Geoffrey Soro and Brian Odour scored 22 and 12 points respectively as Ndejje defeated Vegetarian 65-53. Hillary Wamono and Bernard Okumu led Vegetarian with 14 and 12 points respectively.
KIU thumped Miracle 82-46 with Edwin Kateregga, Akol Bol and Donat Habiyambere nailing 16, 11 and 10 points respectively. Miracle’s Ian
Mago and Frank Karoro sunk 13 and 11 points respectively.
The standings
At the top of the table, UCU and Warriors are tied on 35 points, although the latter have played a game-more.
Desmond Owili grabbed 21 points and 13 rebounds and Syrus Kiviri added 11 as UCU beat the Rhinos 79-70. Famy Sebatandira and Daniel Ojoro netted 12 apiece for the Rhinos.
The Warriors hammered the Proline Heaters 113-63 with Jude Ochen draining a season-high 33 points, including 7-18 from three-point range.
Henry Malinga added 23 points and 14 rebounds for the reigning champions while Ronnie Kasewu contributed 19 points and 14 boards.