Friday Results
KIU Rangers 64-73 JKL Lady Dolphins
Our Savior 60-53 Power
Our Savior Basketball Club pulled the first surprise of the 2016 Pepsi National Basketball League Playoffs by defeating Power to even their quarter final series Friday night.
For many basketball fans, only the tie involving Pemba Warriors and UCU Canons was expected to go up to the wire with Power, City Oilers and KIU Titans all tipped to ease their way to the final four.
The script changed when the Kikoni outfit, led by last season’s top rebounder, Steven Mwesige, paused questions to which the five time champions had no answers.
Our Savior started hungrier while their opponents struggled to function on both ends of the court. Power could only afford 9 points at the end of the first 10 minutes compared to Our Savior’s 17.
The 8 point lead increased by 1 as the two sides went into the half time break and Power’s efforts of a late comeback proved futile thereafter.
They closed the gap in the third stanza and even took the lead (38-37) midway through the quarter. Belton Mwesigwa’s charges were not about to let go and former UCU Canons forward Joseph Chuma started getting his jumper right at the right time.
Our Savior held on to go into the final 10 with a slippery 42-38 lead. Mwesige, who scored a game high 21 points and collected 14 rebounds, took charge of proceedings in the final 10 minutes by picking rebounds on both ends of the court and driving at the Power defense that was already in foul trouble.
Our Savior held on to force a decisive game three in their quarter final series. Chuma registered a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while Martin Kelly added 6 points for the under dogs.
Power captain Joseph Ikong led the way with 14 points while Michael Kojjo came off the bench to score 11 points. 2011 MVP Isaac Afidra contributed 8 points.
The two sides will lock horns again on Wednesday next week to get the winner in the decisive game.
In the ladies’ category, JKL Ladies became the fourth and last team to advance to the semis after a convincing 73-64 win to complete a clean sweep of KIU Rangers.
The newly promoted side will face last year’s losing finalists KCCA Leopards in the best of 5 semifinal series.