FUBA NBL: Warriors inflict 6th loss onto Power

Michael Bazangu (left) top scored for Warriors with 18 points on the night. (PHOTOS/FUBA)

FUBA National Basketball League

Warriors 67-61 Betway Power

YMCA Courts, Wandegeya

Friday, 26-07-2019

WANDEGEYA – Betway Power were subjected to a 6th loss of the season by in-form Warriors in one of the two FUBA NBL games played at YMCA Courts in Wandegeya on Friday night.

Boniface Okello’s side trailed from start to finish en route to losing 61-67 in a fiercely contested encounter.

Warriors’ duo of Stanley Mugerwa and Michael Bazangu led the way for Ronnie Mutebi’s side. Mugerwa registered a double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds while Bazangu who shot 5-15 from the field, posted a team high 18 points.

Warriors were quick out of the blocks and found themselves 7-0 up inside the opening four minutes and by the end of the first quarter, they led 18-16.

Power failed to get going in the second, posting just 5 points whilst letting in 10 at the other end to go into halftime trailing 28-21.

The 7 point lead was turned into 8 by Warriors following a 17-16 third quarter victory.

The 4th would Powers’ but not the game. Okello’s lads took the last quarter 25-23 but the damage was already done as they lost the contest 61-67.

Despite the loss, Syrus Kiviri impressed for Power, scoring a game high 19 points while shooting 4-13 from the field. Kiviri also collected 7 boards on the night.

Joseph Ikong (10) was the other Power player who reached double figures in terms of scoring while Libe Makala grabbed 10 rebounds.

This was Powers’ 6th loss this season and a second in 5 second round games following the 77-85 defeat at the hands of JKL Dolphins this past Wednesday.

Power have now lost 6 games this season.

For Warriors, Chris Omanye also reached double figures in terms of scoring, posting 14 points. Their bench also impressed combaining for 16 points on the night.

Mutebi’s side remain unbeaten in the second round, winning all their 5 games so far and their record for the season now stands at 14-02 after 16 games.

In the other game played on Friday, Brenda Ekone registered a double double of 23 points and 11 rebounds as Nkumba Lady Marines defeated A1 Challenge 58-47.

Ekone who shot 8-22 from the field was impressive as she registered 5 assists and 3 steals, helping her side to third victory in the second round.

A1 started slowly, not making a singles basket in the first quarter as the trailed 13-0. That deficit was increased to 23 with Nkuba leading 29-06 at the long break.

A1 tried to mount a comeback, taking the last two quarters 20-11 and 21-18 but lost 47-58 in the end.

Catharine Haruri was the other Marine to register double figures in terms of scoring as she managed 11 points on the night.

For A1, Rutha Atuhaire (16), Susan Amito (14) and Victoria Ntale (10) all breached the 10 point mark via scoring but it was not enough to avoid an 8th loss of the season which takes their record to 5-8 after 13 games.

Nkumba on the other hand now are now 9-5 in their first 14 games of the current campaign.