Friday, June 30
•Ndejje Angels Vs D-Mark Power, 7pm
•UCU Canons Vs KIU Titans, 9pm
UCU Canons will be without head coach Nicholas Natuhereza when they face off with KIU Titans in the National Basketball League.
Natuhereza travelled with the U23 Gazelles 3×3 team for the African Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia.
The Gazelles team finished fifth (out of the six teams), beating Benin in the classification game on Thursday.
Coach Emmanuel Kiguyi will be in charge of proceedings.
“The preparations are going on well,” Kiguyi assured The-SportsNation.
“We want to make our offense lean on the defensive side, and we are working to improve on our work rate as well.”
The Canons will be hoping to complete a league double over KIU Titans having beaten the side 69-68 in the thrilling First round tie.
That victory was the exact score-line as UCU beat KIU in a one-off Losers match to finish third last season.
And it’s strong to note that UCU beat KIU twice last season – They won 74-66 in the first round before clinching a 82-55 victory in the second round.
But a lot has happened since then, mainly the departure of Titus Lual, Fayed Bbaale and Joseph Chuma among others.
Jimmy Otim is among those who have stepped up, after being peripheral last season, and the point guard is averaging 14 points per game
Peter Sifuma, Jerry Kayanga and Ibanda Lwabaga are also averaging double digits as well.
They have nine wins and four losses, and that include their two wins in the second round from as many games, coming against Our Saviour and Rezlife Saints.
But in KIU Titans, they face a side that has a better roster, and has won 10 of their 12 games.
They beat JKL Dolphins 76-64 in their only game in the second round.
Denis Balungu has been a good addition, while Fidel Okoth is yet to join the side.
All eyes will be on Isaiah Mabeny Ateer who was at UCU Canons two seasons back.
But the Titans still have much in their armoury including Amis Saidi Danny, Peter Obleng, Innocent Ochera, Stanley Mugerwa, Joel Lukoji, Henry Okoth, Collins Kasujja, Edgar Munaaba among others.
And it’s the rotation headache that awaits coach Julius Lutwama come tip-off.
