Ugandan teams reported a mixed report card as the Fiba AfroBasket and Fiba AfcoCan qualifiers tipped off at the Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
The ladies team, Gazelles, gave the home fans something to cheer about on the opening day eventually overcoming a stubborn Rwanda 62-53 team in the day’s second game.
Led by Finnish-based Claire Lamunu, the Gazelles made a 23-11 storming start as the visitors struggled with their opponents running game.
But they fought back led by Tierra Monay Henderson whose game high 28 points helped them take the second period 19-5.
It was then that the Gazelles took hold of the see-saw encounter 22-13 to take a 60-43 lead going into the final period.
Back to back three-pointers from Zainah Lokwameri then took the game away from Rwanda with the small forward scoring eight of her 11 points in that period.
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Lamunu then top scored with 14 and picked nine rebounds while Brenda Ekone chipped in with 11 points for the Nicholas Natuhereza coached side who play Egypt on Thursday.
The latter were victors edging Kenya 86-82 in the opening game. The Egyptian men’s team also managed an opening day win outlasting Rwanda 68-59.
It is the last game of the evening though that attracted the biggest attendance but whose majority were left downcast after Kenya pulled off a 70-61 win over Uganda’s Silverbacks.
Intent on overturning a bad run of form against their opponents, the Kenyan team rattled their opponents with their aggression winning the opening two quarters to take a 40-31 half time lead.
Only the heroics of Brandon Davies threatened to wrestle the game away from them with the Barcelona center leading the Silverbacks with 15 points and 21 rebounds.
Robinson Opong added 12 and Tony Drileba 11 but the Silverbacks were ultimately upstaged by the Tylar Okari and Tom Bush Wamukota combo that put up 19 and 18 points respectively.
The Silverbacks which included Betway Power trio of Syrus Kiviiri, Joseph Ikong and Geoffrey Soro return to action on Saturday in a must-win game against Egypt.
The five men’s teams will face each other in a round-robin format to determine the winner.
The women’s AfroBasket qualifier meanwhile involves four teams with the Gazelles set to tussle it out with Egypt, Rwanda and Kenya
Afrobasket and Afrocan Qualifiers
Day 1 Results:
*Women: Egypt 86-82 Kenya
*Men: Egypt 68-59 Rwanda
*Women: Uganda 62-53 Rwanda
*Men: Uganda 61-70 Kenya
Today at Lugogo
Women: Rwanda vs Kenya 1pm
Men:Rwanda vs Tanzania 3pm
Women: Egypt vs Uganda 5pm
Men: Egypt vs Kenya 7pm
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