Friday Results
Warriors 69-65 UCU Canons (Warriors lead series 1-0)
A1 Challenge 61-40 Javon Ladies (A1 lead series 1-0)
Warriors recovered from a poor first half to defeat UCU Canons 69-65 in the opening game of the best-of-three playoffs quarter finals on Friday night at YMCA.
Ronnie Mutebi’s fears going into the game came to the fore in the first quarter as the Canons ran away to 22-13 first quarter scoring in transition before stretching the lead to double figures in the second period.
Steven Wundi connected from deep as Brian Namake and Jonathan Egau attacked the basket and Canons led 39-13 at halftime.
Come the second half, as Warriors’ coach Sam Obol sat with his hands folded, his assistant Mutebi gave veteran guard Ronnie Kasewu the last instruction and put the 2009 MVP on the floor for the first time.
The vet restored normalcy on the floor that slowed down Namake and the university side’s offense. Warriors moved the ball better and broke UCU’s zone defense on multiple occasions and put them in foul trouble early in the frame.
Warriors went for 27 points in the third quarter and limited Canons to 11 as the game went into the final quarter all square at 50.
The fourth quarter was close till the final two minutes of the game. With Warriors leading 63-60, Nick Natuhereza called a time and on return Namake picked up his fifth personal foul of the game to send Syrus Kiviiri (15 points) on line to complete a 3-point play and the university side did not recover.
Mark Opio scored 19 points to pace Warriors, Philip Ameny contributed 12 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while Ceasar Kizito scored 11 points.
Namake scored game high 20 points in a losing effort, Wundi piled up 19 points and Egau contributed 15 points.
