By Ian Asabo
The UCU Canons will face the Namugongo Blazers in the final of the first Betway Power invitational tournament final. They beat the Falcons 75-53 in the semi-final held at YMCA court in Wandegeya to book their ticket for the final game this coming Saturday (04 December), against the Blazers.
The Namugongo blazers, on the other hand, downed the UPDF Tomahawks 79-55 in a blowout win in the other semi-final that signaled their intent on winning their championship.
The UCU Canons are in sparkling form, which places the team as clear favourites for the final, which has seen them compete in two tournaments at the same time, and keep at 100% in all of their games.
They recently won the 3×3 Afro Varsity tournament held in Nairobi which guaranteed the team the chance to represent Africa in the World Cup in October 2022. The ‘Canons’ defeated the UPDF Tomahawks, Takan Lokeris, and the Falcons on their road to the final.
Team Captain and Forward Titus Lual predicts a very competitive encounter, but is very confident that the team will win the game and be crowned champions. “ The Final against the Blazers will be a very competitive game with both teams leaving it on the line, but I am very confident that the team will be able to get the dub”, he says.
Betway Power organized the tournament in order to remember the lives lost of those who were influential in developing the game during the pandemic.
Betway Power General Manager, Allan Musoke said the tournament is being held in honor of key stakeholders in the Uganda Basketball fraternity, such as Isaac Bagenda, who have, since, passed to glory. “We have lost many people in the basketball fraternity, so through this tournament, we want to honour them for their contribution to the sport”, he said.
The winner of the tournament will take home Shs2m, while the first and second runners up will pocket Shs 1.5m and Shs. 500,000, respectively.