FUBA National Basketball League 2019
Friday, 07-06-2019
MTN Arena, Lugogo
-UCU Canons vs Betway Power @8:30pm
-JKL Dolphins vs UCU Lady Canons (Women) @6:30pm
LUGOGO – Betway Power will be gunning for a 6th successive victory when they take on UCU Canons in one of the two FUBA NBL games to be played at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.
Arnold Lando’s side who had a slow start to the season, losing three of their first four game but have now upped their game lately, winning all of their last five fixtures.
Ironically, before going on the current run, it was UCU that they last lost to, going down 68-71 at the same venue back on May 10th.
In the current run, Power has defeated Sharing 98-84, KCCA 82-66, Falcons 111-50, KU 96-66 and Ndejje 73-51.
Power is one of the sides tipped to challenge Oilers dominance in the league and they are gunning to go one better than last year’s finals loss.
“We lost by a small game but this season our goal is championship, said Power’s assistant coach Boniface Okello ahead of the game.
““The first round was not bad. We are trying to fix a few things here and there so we expect lows and high.
About Friday’s opposition, Okello expects a tough game which could go either way.
“It’s going to be tough but whoever executes well in offense, plays very good defense, will have an edge.
“We have to rebound well and discipline will be key. It’s going to be interesting.
For UCU, they were the stand-out performers of the first round, ending it on top of the league.
Nicholas Natuhereza’s side were virtually unplayable in the first round, winning 10 of their 11 fixtures.
Their only loss came at the hands of KIU Titans on May 18th, when they went down 58-64.
Coming up against Power will be a further test to their title mental and if they can take care of Lando’s side, they will have done their confidence a whole lot of good.
In the other day’s game, defending champions JKL Dolphins will square off with UCU Lady Canons.
This is a tasty affair as it pits the two most outstanding teams in the Women’s division in the first round.
JKL ended the round on top with a perfect 9-0 record while UCU lost only one game, ending with an 8-1 record.
When the two sides met in the first round, JKL ran out 76-67 winners on April 20th.
Having lost last year’s final to JKL, UCU will be hoping to end a 5 game losing streak to the Dolphins.
It should be noted that JKL swept UCU 4-0 in last year’s final, to end the Mukono based sides’ three peat.
The upcoming FUBA NBL fixtures
-Angles Basketball Club vs A1 Challenge
-MUK Sparks vs Nkumba Lady Marines
-YMCA Lady Hamstars vs UMU Ravens
-KU Eagles vs Falcons
-KCCA Men vs Our Saviour
