National Basketball League weekend results
Women
KCCA Leopards 75-41 Gladiators
Magic Stormers 73-62 Javon Ladies
Men
UPDF Tomahawks 52-68 Betway Power
JKL 91-47 Nkumba
Sharing Youth 63-67 Ndejje Angels
KAMPALA. Betway Power harbors hopes of adding to their five National Basketball League titles, the last of which came in 2011.
To achieve that, there appears a general feeling that the whole team would have to step up to the level that mainly Michael Makiadi has been playing at this season. The lanky forward is not only leading in points made but had also picked up the most rebounds averaging 18.5 points and 13 boards before Saturday's game against UPDF.
On a rare off-day, Michael Kojo who has been averaging just six points stepped up for the much maligned Power front-court to guide the five-time champions past the physical UPDF Tomahawks. The center, who finished 10 of 15 from the field led with 20 points as Betway Power avenged an 85-75 first round loss with a 68-52 win of their own at YMCA on Saturday.
Power made a fast start, winning the opening two quarters 16-7 and 18-14 to take a 34-21 halftime lead. Makiadi then played a decisive role in the fourth quarter scoring seven of his 11 points in the period as Power snuffed out any chance of a UPDF comeback. The Tomahawks won the third quarter 20-14 before Power prevailed 20-11 in the fourth. The result improved Power who are now on a three game winning run to 13-4.
UPDF was meanwhile led by Stephen Wokorach whose 14 points and 12 rebounds on the day were not enough as the Mande Baker coached Tomahawks slumped to 4-11. On Sunday, Ndejje dented Sharing Youth’s hopes of a playoff place after subjecting the Nsambya based side to 67-63 defeat. Innocent Ochera and Michael Othieno led with 21 and 17 points respectively for Ndejje whose coach Walker Obedi believes his team can make the playoff semifinals.
They improved to 10-6 while Sharing who seem locked in a four-way battle for two playoff slots with Our Saviour, JKL Dolphins and UPDF fell to 5-12 despite Tong Gatwech and Stephen Otoa’s 20 and 16 point efforts.