2015: Silverbacks, Gazelles competed at AfroBasket
Silverbacks power forward Stanley Ocitti attempts a jumper against Central African Republic at the AfroBasketball Championships held in Tunisia last year. Ocitti was impressive. Courtesy photo
Kampala- As Silverbacks captain Stephen Omony stated, qualification to the AfroBasket championships should be made a habit rather than a one off.
For 2015 though, the country can celebrate a hugely successful year in which the Silverbacks and Gazelles, the national men and women’s basketball teams all took part in the continental championship.
This was in addition to the ladies’ club side KCCA who returned to the continental competition for the first time since 2008 while City Oilers narrowly missed out on qualification after a narrow loss to Egyptian side Gezira.
“My conclusion will be to appreciate the opportunity to be among the 16 top teams in Africa and people should watch out for Uganda next time,” Omony said after the men’s tournament in August. The results were not as fruitful, the Silverbacks bowing out with a 1-4 record.
The only victory came in the 72-64 classification game triumph over Zimbabwe to finish 15th at the 16 team tournament.
There were some decent individual performances on the other hand particularly from Omony who averaged 17.5 points against powerhouses Tunisia and Nigeria before completing with 12.5 points in four games.
Stanley Ochitti too certainly left with an enhanced reputation, the power forward averaging a team high 14.6 points in five games.
The women’s team fared slightly better finishing 10th out of 12 nations with a 2-5 record and had Peace Proscovia pick a tournament high 12.7 rebounds with Muhayimina Namuwaya coming fifth in the same category.
At the Fiba Africa Club Champions Cup, KCCA Leopards also finished 11th out of 12 teams with Namuwaya averaging nine rebounds, the second best figures at the tournament that concluded at the start of this month in Angola.
They qualified for this tournament after finishing second at the Zone V championship following a 73-62 loss to Tanzania’s Berco Stars in the final.
In the men, City Oilers improved from their third placed finish at the same tournament in Rwanda but still fell agonizingly short, 75-73 to Gezira in the final.
Oilers win league
The consolation for that disappointment was picking up a third successive National League title after a 4-3 series triumph over the UCU Canons.
The feat for the five-year-old club saw them become only the second side to complete a three-peat after Falcons between 2002-04. This followed an 8-67 win in the deciding Game Seven of the Fuba- Pepsi League playoff final.
Ben Komakech woke from his slumber to score 14 points while compatriots Kami Kabange added 18 and Landry Ndikumana 11 to deny Nicholas Natuhereza’s side a first league triumph in their 11 year history.
In the women,Judith Nansobya scored 19 points in game six to help the UCU Lady Canons hold off a late KCCA leopards charge and win their best of seven series 4-2.
Long term, the biggest positive for basketball in the country, all factors constant, should be the start of the Fuba-NBA Junior League whose inaugural season tipped off at the end of May.
The tournament whose initial project is expected to last four years is aimed at player development and consists of players aged 12-15.
A total of 30 schools across Kampala and Wakiso took part with Mashariki High Pelicans winning the first edition, defeating KISU Bucks 66-51 in the final graced by Miami small forward two time NBA All-Star Luol Deng.
Many will hope for the emergence of more players like Mashariki guard Fayed Baale who emerged MVP.
On the low side, the fraternity has lost three players. First UPDF Tomahawks’ Michael Samora died following a road accident while KCCA Leopards’ Mariah Nakayima’s sudden death shocked many.
Last week Robert Wanitho a member of the 2010 and 2011 Tiger Head Power winning teams succumbed to intestinal cancer at Mulago Hospital after a two year battle with the disease.
The league was meanwhile, again marred by threats by game match officials to abscond from duty over unpaid regular season allowances with clubs also yet to receive their share of money from the regular season sponsors.
An historic year for the game
Silverbacks finished 15th at AfroBasket Championships
Gazelles finished with a 2-5 record at the women edition with peace Proscovia picking a tournament high 12.7 rebounds
Four year Fuba-NBA Junior league launched
KCCA leopards returned to African championship since 2008
City Oilers claimed third straight league title
UCU lady Canons reclaimed women league title from KCCA Leopards
