After mixed results from the training camp in Turkey, the Men’s national Basketball team, the Silverback can now shift their attention to next week’s World Cup qualifiers in Nigeria.
The team closed out the last of its five build up games in the Molten Istanbul Cup with a 56-80 loss to Cameroon on Wednesday evening.
The loss meant that they had lost three of the five games, something that does not worry assistant coach Mandy Juruni.
“We can here (Turkey) to prepare for the World cup qualifiers slated for later this month and i think we achieved our goal.
“We may not have won all the games but i don’t think that matters because what we wanted was to play and try to compete.
“The lads have done exactly that and in the process gained fitness and also gotten to know the new faces.
In the last game, the Silverbacks fell short to an aggressive Cameroon side that looked fitter especially in the last quarter.
Uganda trailed 19-13 after the opening quarter but came within 2 points (28-26) as the second quarter neared the end but that was the closest George Galanopoulos charges came until the final buzzer.
Cameroon extended their lead to double-digit early in the third quarter and there was no route back for Uganda.
Joseph Ikong was Uganda’s only player to score in double figure with 10 points with a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field.
Jordin Mayes (9 points), Robinson Opong Odoch (8 points) were the other notable contributors for the Silverbacks. Emmanuel Mugenga and Stephen Omony scored 6 points apiece.
The team is expected to fly to Nigeria early next week where they will play three games in the second phase of round one of qualification.
Uganda finished second in group B after the first phase of game in Mali with four points from three games, having won one and lost two.
They will take on Nigeria on the 29th of this month in the opener before a date with Mali the following day. Uganda lost to both Mali and Nigeria in phase one.
The Silverbacks last game will be against neighbors Rwanda on the 1st of July. The team’s only win in Bamako came against Rwanda.
Uganda needs to finish among the top three in group B to qualify for the next round.
Uganda’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers’ schedule:
-Nigeria vs Uganda, 29-06-2018
-Uganda vs Mali, 30-06-2018
-Rwanda vs Uganda, 01-07-2018
*all games will be played in Lagos
The top three teams from each group will be placed in a group with three other top teams. All results from the first qualification round, except for results against teams that don’t advance, are carried over to the second round. Games will be played in September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. The top two teams in each group along with the better placed third team will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup proper.
Uganda’s performance in the Molten Istanbul Cup:
-Uganda 90-72 Iraq on Friday, 15-06-2018
-Saudi Arabia 90-66 Uganda on Saturday, 16-06-2018
-Jordan 91-75 Uganda on Monday, 18-06-2018
-Uganda 85-65 Bahrain on Tuesday, 11-06-2018
-Uganda 56-80 Cameroon on Wednesday, 20-06-2018
The team currently in camp:
- Syrus Kiviri
- Joseph Ikong
- Stephen Omony
- Robinson Opong
- Jimmy Enabu
- Ivan Lumanyika
- James Okello
- Samuel Kalwanyi
- John Geu Dengeu
- Jordin Dean Mayes
- Emmanuel Mugenga Trinquier
- Stanley Mugerwa.
Coaches:
- Galanopoolos George
- Mandy Juruni
- Abdulkadir Omar Barajab
