Photo courtesy of FUBA Facebook.
The semi finals series between Betway Power and UCU Canons is now tied at 1-1 after a 66:62 Canons’ triumph in game two. Largely a team effort but you can say that the Canons have found a consistent star in David Kongor. The explosive lanky guard has tallied 38 points in two games, last night dropping another game high 20 points and 9 rebounds including a clutch three and an and one dunk that put it away for the Canons.
Game two was largely a game of margins with both teams going on runs and exchanging leads. The first quarter ended 20:19 in favor of Power. Both teams scored 17 points in the second quarter. Power won the third quarter 14:10.
Isaac Afidra who’s been rehabilitating an injury made a return off the bench with a team high 16 points on 18 minutes. Afidra’s nightly notable performance was supported by Syrus Kiviiri with 14 points and Fahmy Sebatindira with 10 points.
I asked Joseph Ikong what nature of challenge Power faces in UCU Canons and this is what he had to say;
“They’re a very good young team and they have a brilliant coach. They finished the league as the top seed. I don’t think that was by chance.”
Ikong was keen on taking some of the heat for the loss saying;
“Some of our key players didn’t show up as expected. Honestly, myself and probably Soro (Geofrey), we barely had 10 points between us.”
Indeed, Soro Geofrey and Joseph Ikong combined for 9 points with Soro Geofrey scoring 6 points. Power seem to have abandoned their culture of transitional offense. Having only 6 fast break points is a testament to that.
“You can tell we are no longer playing our traditional transition offense. We are all trying to adjust.” – Joseph Ikong.
Throughout the game, the Canons had to cope with the aggressive Power’s Forwards in Phillip Ameny, Isaac Afidra, Brian Sivachi and Soro Geofrey. Much as the Canons have young legs with really good hops for rebounds, Canons’ Forwards still struggle against the bigger bodies of Power forwards.
“It’s going to be a big man game for them (power). You can see that they are not looking for much in the perimeter but my guys have to be aggressive.” Nick Natuhereza, UCU Canons Head Coach.
“You could tell that guys weren’t as rusty as they were in game one. We were also very aggressive out there. In a close series like this one, it’s going to go down to the little things.”
Titus Lual and Isaiah Mabeny combined for 15 points with Lual scoring 4 points (on a 2 of 12 shooting ) and and catching a whopping 17 rebounds. Mabeny’s 11 points came off a 4 of 15 shooting. Coach Nick discussed these shooting ratios with Cucu Brian and this is what he had to say;
“I’m more concerned about us being able to create good shots. For as long we are creating good looks, i’m satisfied but as for Titus; we are going to find a way to make adjustments. He is constantly working on his jumper but he is strangely missing. We shall probably find a way to create for him paint shots.”
Canons seem to have good things happening for them when the ball is in Fayed Bbale’s hands. We asked Coach Nick what the rookie brings to the Canons;
“He has his moments, he was certainly better tonight than he was in game one. He is a young player with plenty to learn but perhaps his best attribute is his ability to protect the ball. You don’t see him throw away many balls. ”
Canons took a 2 point lead at 64:62 with 11 second to play on a clutch Fayed scoop layup. Power called time-out to look for Syrus who lost the ball on Jerry Kayanga defense, D-Kongor picked it up and ran away with it into a foul dunk.
brian@basketball256.net | Twitter: @Cucubrian
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