Tiger Head Power 71-65 Stanbic Warriors (Series tied 1-1)
A1 Challenge 36-66 KCCA Leopards (Leopards lead series 2-0)
Having watched City Oilers drop to 0-2 in their series, Tiger Head Power were determined not to go the same way right from tip-off as they saw off Warriors 71-65 to tie the series.
Power took charge of the game from the first quarter which they won 18-14 and out scored their opponents 20-11 in the second.
“We needed composure in this game and i told the guys to be composed in every position. Patient, attack and get one (free throw)” Power’s coach Bernes Akunda.
Joseph Ikong led Power with 15 points, 7 rebounds and four assists. Norman Blick, Micheal Kojjo and Philip Ameny contributed 14, 13 and 10 points each.
“We reminded ourselves that a player hurts you with the ball. We tried to deny some the ball and tried to contest their shots” Akunda said.
Warriors came back to life in the third quarter but couldn’t close the gap completely.
“It was complacency. We didn’t respond to the physical play well” Warriors coach Gad Eteu said. “The guys made bad decisions and had poor shot selection in the first half and Power did a good job of turning all those mistakes into points.”
Henry Malinga scored game high 29 points and picked 7 rebounds to pace Warriors. Mark Opio added 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Game 3 is on Tuesday at YMCA.
Meanwhile KCCA Leopards spanked cold A1 Challenge whose first field goal came midway in the second quarter.
Flavia Oketcho scored game high 15 points and made 5 assists as Leopards edged closed to a third finals appearance in as many years. Claire Lamunu contributed 13 points and picked 10 rebounds while Muhayimina Namuwaya had 11.
Vickie Ondiso scored 11 for A1.
