This evening at the Lugogo Arena, we dive right back into the National Basketball League (NBL) Playoffs after a little over six weeks break due the many basketball activities that’s been happening around our region. For the most part in the different match ups for the semi finals, game one is going to be the trend setter for each match up; In the NBL – Women, Zone 5 champs are matched up against KIU Rangers with the odds stacked up against the Rangers – they’re playing the defending Champ who’s also still fresh from a regional triumph. The other semi final is an olden rivalry between KCCA Leopards and UCU Lady Canons.
In the NBL – Men, Betway Power courts UCU Canons and six time straight NBL champions City Oilers are matched up against Warriors. At this time of the year, you want to believe that the team that’s healthier will have the advantage. Towards the end of the stretch, bodies are bumped up because of load at practice and games which also makes players very injury prone. But note also that there teams that are healthy but haven’t really been competing. Match fitness is another thing all together. For example, before the break, we had seen Power’s Brian Sivachi surge out as a force, Can he have the same rythm after a six weeks timeout? Syrus Kiviiri looked rather bumped up from Team Uganda FIBA3X3 Africa cup and Soro Geofrey had sustained an ankle injury during practice for 3X3.
UCU Canons have the rare privilege to enjoy practice in their Mukono isolation. You rest assured they’ve been cooking up something and the one thing you can almost be certain about a young team is that they’ll always bring a passionate fight. Canons come into the this series as the better shooters of the three ball but Power can count on experience. A lot of the Power players have been in these situations a lot longer.
The semi finals series of the NBL are a best of five games with the team that wins three games advancing to the best of seven games finals.
Wednesday 13th November 2019 Fixtures
JKL Dolphins vs KIU Rangers – game 1 – 6:30PM | Lugogo Arena
UCU Canons vs Betway Power – game 1 – 8:30PM | Lugogo Arena.
brian@basketball256.com
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