National Basketball League
Friday 30 June - YMCA Court
Betway Power vs Pemba Warriors
Nkumba Lady Marines vs KIU Rangers
Wednesday results
Women: JKL 68-41 Magic Stormers
Men: KIU Titans 53-40 UPDF
KAMPALA. The rivalry between Betway Power and Pemba Warriors peaked in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for those who have followed the National Basketball League over the past decade. One of the players who has been around long enough to witness the rivalry between the two teams is Betway Power’s Paul Mwaka.
Having joined the club in 2012 from Ndejje, Mwaka certainly understands the rivalry between the top teams. But as the five-time league champions take to YMCA Court on Friday evening, he will be among three players including Diego Angemi and Sunday Okot missing for the Betway sponsored club when they take on their traditional rivals.
The forward is set to miss out having only laid his mother to rest at the start of this week in Kitgum.
“He is one of the players we will sorely miss having lost his mother and it has disrupted our preparations a bit. But we will try to win the game for him,” Betway Power coach Arnold Lando stated ahead of the game.
Mchuda revealed many of the club’s players had consequently only returned for the game which comes three weeks since their previous game, a 60-50 win over Sharing Youth. Guards Sunday Okot and Diego Angemi meanwhile also miss out with the former reportedly out of the country. Angemi on the other hand is out with a hip problem.
They however come into the game as slightly the in-form side having won four successive games including wins over champions City Oilers and UCU Canons.
"A game against Warriors carries more importance especially for the fans. So it is important that we win," added Mchuda.
Warriors have meanwhile played the least games in the division defeating Our Saviour, UCU and UPDF. The fixture is traditionally one of the most exciting games on the domestic basketball league calendar with the two teams having contested three consecutive finals from 2009-2011.
And with the two teams left with the only unbeaten records in the league, the bragging rights will certainly be at stake too.