National Basketball League 2018
Friday, 06-07-2018
MTN Arena, Lugogo
– JKL Lady Dolphins Vs Magic Stormers @06:00pm
-Betway Power vs KIU Titans @08:00pm
The second round of the National Basketball League (NBL) tips-off on Friday evening with two games at the MTN Indoor Arena in Lugogo, Kampala.
Table leaders Betway Power who lost only one of their 11 first round games, will hope to carry their scintillating form into this second phase when they take on third placed KIU Titans.
Power (10-1), is one of the two teams that picked maximum points against the Titans in the concluded first round, the other being Sharing Youth.
Power defeated KIU 56-65 on June 22 at YMCA, and both sides meet again exactly two weeks after that duel in what promises to be a game to watch.
As Power’s minds will be on completing a double over the Titans, the latter has his sight set for revenge.
However, the University side will have to look into first game errors and make sure they don’t occur again if they are to achieve their desired goal.
“We didn’t rebound well and they got a run on us in the 3rd (quarter) which kept us at bay, says Titans coach Brian Wathum ahead of the encounter
“We hope to take revenge, but we know that we are facing a team in fine form.
“All we have to do is to play hard, and be aggressive on both ends of the court.
Power will hope to have Fahmy Ssebatindira back in the fold after missing recent games.
Joseph Ikong may return to the side, the player returned with the Natinal team from an unsuccessful trip to Lagos. However, he didnt train with his Power teammates in the build up to Friday’s encounter.
The table toppers will look to the armoury of Stephen Wundi, Paul Odong, Philip Ameny and Mike Madol among others.
It should however be noted that KIU Titans are still unbeaten when playing at MTN Indoor Arena this season. The Kansanga based side have won all their four games at Lugogo.
In the Lady’s division, JKL Lady Dolphins who are still unbeaten in the, will take on off-form Magic Stormers.
The first round game of this tie which was supposed to be played on June 3rd at YMCA Court, was not played and thus postponed to a later date.
Coming into the second round, JKL will hope that their winning touch is still intact – The dolphins won all their seven league engagements in the first round.
The young Stormers side, with a 3-4 record, come into this big tie at the back of a three game winless streak – The team lost against A1, UCU and KCCA Leopards in a row.
Magic stormers’ only three victories in the first round came against Javon Ladies, UMU Ravens and Nkumba Lady Marines.
The stormers will have to rely on Jane Asinde, Benedict Namaye, together with the experience of Rachael Nanyonga to defy odds.
With a rich roster of Salma Akinyi, Flavia ‘Flirsh’ Aketcho, Ritah Imanishimwe, Namuwaya Muhayimuna, Jamilah Nansikombi and others, JKL come into this game, as the clear favourites.
Last season, Magic stormers lost both regular season games against JKL – The Buddo school based team fell 41-68 and 53-49 against JKL. The team also lost 95-51 to JKL in the play offs.
