Power wary of JKL threat

KAMPALA. Joseph Ikong, Isaac Afidra and Michael Kojo are three of the players that helped Betway Power to their last National Basketball League championship back in 2011.
With such experience, coupled with the team’s recent form that saw them finish the regular season as top seeds with a 19-3 record, Power would be favoured over many of the other top division clubs.
They in fact go into their best-of-five semi final playoffs series starting this evening at Lugogo as favourites against a JKL side that is only completing its second season in the topflight league.

Potential slayers
Despite the odds being stacked in their favour, guard Stephen Wundi is also not oblivious of the threat their opponents possess having already dispatched Pemba Warriors 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
“We have to limit their strengths,” Wundi noted before singling out three of the players that he believes have the ability to turn the series.

“If we limit the scoring threat of Ivan Lumanyika, Brian Namake and Jude Ochen and we maximize our strengths then we have a good chance of winning. We are running team and can shoot,” the shooting guard added.
Power, whose fans and those of reigning champions City Oilers have dubbed this year as the “race for the sixth” come into the series having withheld a late challenge from Ndejje in the previous game.

Ruing missed chances
Salim Kisily missed two free-throws with 19 seconds on the clock and Ndejje trailing by three before Power pulled away for an 84-77 victory. Geoffrey Soro top scored with 20 points and is averaging 16 points and Phillip Ameny 12 from the two first round playoff games sponsored by Tusker Lite.
JKL forward Brian Namake on the other hand is averaging 17 points and eight rebounds while centre Ivan Lumanyika averaged 11 points and nine boards.

TUSKER LITE PLAYOFFS - SEMIFINALS
TODAY - GAME ONE
Betway Power vs. JKL Dolphins
(best of five semifinal series) 7pm
A1 Challenge vs. JKL Lady Dolphins
(best of five semifinal series) 9pm

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