- Warriors 65-74 KIU Titans (Titans win series 3-1)
After years of near misses, KIU Titans have finally broken the semifinal barrier and advanced to the National Basketball League finals.
The Kasanga based side defeated Pemba Warriors 74-65 in Game 4 on Sunday night at Lugogo Indoor Stadium despite playing catch up for most of the game.
Warriors – who fell in Game 3 last Friday – were sitting at the edge of the cliff and expected to respond in order to live for another day.
And the two-time league winners who were targeting their first championship round appearance since the successful final in 2012 started the game off with a flurry.
Ceasar Kizito (10 points) and Mark Opio (18 points) gave Warriors a quick 5-0 lead before closing out the quarter with a six-point (22-16) advantage.
KIU trimmed the deficit to 3 points early in the second quarter but Warriors powered their way to a 9 points (36-27) lead at halftime.
Warriors maintained the momentum through the third quarter and led by as many as 15 points but Sam Agutu (11 points) kept Titans afloat with 8 points in the period.
Opiyo turned over Warriors’ first possession of the fourth quarter an Ethinne Kazungu (14 points) punished the mistake with a jumper on the other end and KIU’s come back started right there.
Turning Point
Midway the fourth quarter, Warriors’ forward Stanley Mugerwa was called for 3 seconds violation. Kazungu lay in to give KIU the first lead of the game with 4:54 to play. Titans scored more six points before Warriors could answer.
While Warriors managed to come within a point, they were over the foul limit. Efficient foul line shooting by Sudi Ulanga (15 points), Michale Bwanga (13 points) and Agutu sent the two-time champions packing as Titans celebrated through to their locker room.
