KIU stun KCCA to keep fight for survival alive
Peter Akok grabbed a team-high 19 points to go along with 16 rebounds as KIU stunned the KCCA Panthers 74-61 yesterday at the YMCA to record just their second win of the campaign.
File photo
By Charles Mutebi
Journalists @New Vision
National Basketball League
Results
Women
UCU 71 JKL 67
Nabisunsa 60 Angels 57
Men
KIU 74 KCCA 61
Sommet 85 Rockets 81
Rez Life 62 UCU 54
The KIU Titans look doomed to relegation from the National Basketball League (NBL).
They have not thrown in the towel just yet.
Peter Akok grabbed a team-high 19 points to go along with 16 rebounds as KIU stunned the KCCA Panthers 74-61 yesterday at the YMCA to record just their second win of the campaign.
Hon Kwany added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the second-from-bottom Titans secured one of the shocks of the season and kept their slim hopes of survival just about alive. Julius Lutwama’s side have seven games to save their NBL status, which, judging by their performance against Raymond Muhumuza’s side, looks within the realm of possibility.
Still, it might be too little, too late. KIU are three wins behind the JKL Dolphins, who appear the most likely team they can overtake over the rest of the regular season. The Dolphins, though, have a game in hand and defeated the Titans in the first round, a fact that may or may not be crucial when the sides meet 13 days from now.
Before then, KIU will face the Victoria Crocs, Namuwongo Blazers and UCU Canons, all of which will be expected to defeat the Titans. But as the win over KCCA showed, KIU’s desperation may carry them to unexpected triumphs.
William Saverino scored 11 points for KIU, who outscored KCCA 18-9 in the second quarter to open up a cushion they would protect in a much closer second half.
KCCA were led by Ceasar Kizito with a game-high 21 points, while Gaius Mahamba added 12. KCCA fell to 10-8 with the loss.