FUBA National Basketball League-2019
UCU Canons 56-59 Betway Power
MTN Arena, Lugogo
Wednesday, 13-11-2019
Betway Power took a 1-0 series lead in their National Basketball League semi-final playoffs series against UCU Canons on Wednesday night.
The Betway financed side had to hang on in the final minutes of the contest to win it 59-56.
Power got off to a good start with Joseph Ikong sinking a three and Syrus Kiviri adding two off a pull-up jumper and in the process take a 5-0 lead inside first two minutes.
By the end of the first quarter, they were leading 17-12, having five different scorers.
In the second quarter, UCU came out stronger and won it 14-12 to cut Power’s lead to just three points at the long break.
Again, UCU took the third 19-15 to take a one-point lead (45-44) into the final 10 minutes.
Geoffrey Soro came up big for Power at the start of the fourth, sinking four early points and ensuring Power flipped the game on its head inside the opening minute.
With just over two minutes to play, Chuma Fadhili sank a two to level scores at 55 all and set tone for a thrilling climax.
However, Power scored four more points whilst restricting UCU to just a single Chuma free-throw, to win the contest 59-56.
Power had three players reach double figures in terms of points with Kiviri managing 12 while Ikong and Soro got 11 each; Philip Ameny came up big on the board as he gathered 10 rebounds.
For UCU, David Deng top-scored on the day with 18 points while Joas Maheta helped himself to 13 points.
UCU now take a 1-0 lead in the best of three series which will return with a second game on Sunday.
In the Women’s division, JKL Lady Dolphins’ bench produced 42 points as they beat KIU Rangers 54-46 in game one of their semifinals.
Ritah Imanishimwe’s 14 points and Stella Oyella’s 13 proved instrumental for JKL in a hotly contested encounter.
None of JKL’s starters breached the 10-point mark with Evelyn Nakirija top-scoring with 9 points.
For KIU, Rachael Adiambo managed an impressive 19 points but it was not enough on the day.
The two sides will square off in game two on Sunday while KCCA Leopards clash with UCU Lady Canons in the other semifinal-game one on Friday
NBL Upcoming fixtures
-City Oilers vs Warriors (Men) – Friday, 15-11-2019 @8:30pm
-KCCA Leopards vs UCU Lady Canons (Women) – Friday, 15-11-2019 @5pm
