National Basketball League
Betway Power 75-72 KIU Titans
Kampala International University (KIU) Titans struggle to reach the finals for the their first time still goes on after failing yet again this year.
Perhaps the overwhelming favourites, when the two sides reached the semifinals, Titans failed to live to the billing and lost the series 3-2.
Betway Power won the decisive game 75-72 played on Friday at the YMCA outdoor court, to take the series 3-2 and set a final against City Oilers who swept UCU Canons 3-0.
After losing game four on Wednesday without a single fight, Power seemed to have learnt from their mistakes and were brilliant on the night to eventually win 75-72.
Power began explosively and took the first quarter 15-11 and before the Kansanga based side could fix their woes, the gap had grown to 14 points heading into halftime.
The 5 time champions added 20 points in the second period while Titans were limited to just 10.
It was a different case, after recess with Hamza Nyambogo coached side seeming to have gotten the right footing, managing 24 points in the third quarter while Power scored 20 and the gap had narrowed to 10 points with a quarter to play.
The final quarter produced a thrilling game with either side fighting to take the game.
Despite scoring 27 points in the fourth quarter, Titans eventually lost with a 3 point gap with Power managing 20 more points in the final period. Brian Odong led the scores with a game high 20 points for Power. Skipper Joseph Ikong added 18 points.
Power will now play City Oilers in the men’s finals while UCU Canons will battle rivals KCCA leopards in a repeat of last year’s final in the women’s category.
However, the men’s final will take longer to tip off, with City Oiler expected to play in the Africa basketball club championship that will stretch up to 18th December.