A1 Challenge Knock Out Gladiators in the FUBA-Airtel In Round One Playoff Quarters Best Of Three Series 67:36

GAME TWO OF THE SERIES IS ON THIS FRIDAY

@ Gladiators Line Up; Mukoza Priscilla, Natukunda Ridget, Birungi Joan, Nambya Liz, Wefila Linda, Wafula Lilliane, Nanfuma Samalie, Nikuze Stella, Omoding Rose, Nansubuga Evelyne, Nabalende Linda and Lamunu Claire Gloria.

@A1 Challenge Line Up; Lokidi Angella, Kisukye Carol, Okot Barbra, Kassim Hatima, Nakazibwe Sylvia, Birungi Mariam, Mulwana Olivia, Nantongo Agnes, Bazira Liz, Kyomugisha Gloria, Mugasha Carol and Captain Ntale Victoria.

Having finished the regular season in the fourth spot, A1 Challenge set themselves for a play-off date with the Gladiators who finished fifth at the end of the regular season. Gladiators making their maiden appearance in the play off stage after the introduction of the quarter final stage for play offs, however, A1 Challenge are no strangers to this stage having won the championship in 2005, needless to add their several appearances in the finals.

Come day proper, A1 Challenge boosted by the return of Kassim Hatima to the squad after an agreement over the legalities over her and a few other players playing in the FUBA-Airtel league was reached.

Play offs in any sporting discipline is a stage where the creame’ dela creame face off and the finest of them all earns the bragging rights.

This contest saw the number four face off with the number five, and the face off which was bound to be a tricky face off, did not disappoint.

The first quarter was a cagy-show with both teams playing mean defense strategies and lack of precision offensively was the cause of the low scores. A1 Challenge had a number of chances to pounce on and so did the Gladiators but neither of the teams took the initiative to go on and set the pace from the on-set.

The first quarter ended 8:5 in favor of A1 Challenge.

The second quarter was equally a tight one to call; with the Gladiators offence trying to keep close in as far as the scores on the board are concerned. It however ended 12:8

A1 Challenge went on to win the third and fourth quarters 20:13 and 27:10 respectively.

It was a positive performance from A1 Challenge especially after a slow start and also more encouraging in seeing how Hatima Kassim, Slyvia Nakazibwe and Ntale Victoria were working together. It was clearly copy and paste from training routines to match day proper.

Also how the guard Nakazibwe Sylivia incorporated her pace and wizardry dribbles and threading passes to Carol K. and Ntale Victoria, was one of the highlights in the fourth quarter. She’s a real talent and she can only get better and grow in confidence.

On the other side of the coin, the to-do tasks will probably be precision in the offensive strategy, minimize the turn-over rate because when facing a more formidable opponent [no offence to Gladiators], you could be punished.

The field goal shooting accuracy from the 2-point area was 37.1% and 0% from the 3 point area. However, the shooting from the line was just over the 51% mark. Those statistics need to be hugely improved especially seeing the formidable outfits that lie ahead. And with a figure of 28 turnovers screams a word lack-of-concentration, because that can be the decider in a game, especially in these playoffs. Coach Jeff Omondi will be looking for ways of minimizing errors and creating fluidity in the team both defensively and offensively.

Gladiator coach Wabwire Disan, will be looking for a chance of redemption especially seeing the way the Gladiators fought in the first two quarters. Come Friday, his troops have to be ready to bring the game of their lives because they either have to win or they are eliminated from the playoffs, seeing their hopes for advancing into the playoffs are hanging on a thread.

Ms. Lamunu Claire Gloria’s defensively display will be and encouragement to Coach Disan seeing her blocks on Kassim Hatima and Ntale Victoria, cause moments of pondering especially in their opponents offense. Having said that, the rest of the team have to step up and rise to the occasion; Wafula Lilliane and Nanfuma Samalie and others have to show up or exit. This being their debut appearance in the play-offs, is not going to be an excuse for a poor show come game two.

So Game two is going to be a combination of defensive discipline, team-work, offensive precision, individual brilliance and heart. That in the right proportion will see either teams through to the semi’s.

Scoring:

@A1 Challenge: Ntale Victoria 20pts, Kassim Hatima 14pts, Bazira Liz 10 pts

@ Gladiators: Lamunu Claire Gloria 09 pts, Nanfuma Samalie 07pts, Wafula Lilliane 06 pts

A1 Challenge FB Group #livefeeds#

Game Two: Friday 2^nd November @ Lugogo Indoor Sports Arena.

A1 CHALLENGE FACE GLADIATORS IN THE PLAY-OFF PLATFORM

FUBA-AIRTEL QUARTER FINAL BEST OF THREE SERIES BEGINS THIS FRIDAY


We have reached a time in the basketball season where you either bring it or it is another tale of broken dreams, so to speak.

The play off podium is set, curtains are soon to be unveiled and the talking is soon to cease as different teams step it up and face off as the last one standing will definitely bag the 2012-13 FUBA-Airtel championship.

The basketball-game dynamics are different in this stage and different teams in the camps preparing for this stage know very well by now that any slip up may cost you the championship.

The A1 Challenge camp has gone a season full of mixed feelings, injury setbacks and that is all now water under the bridge as Coach Jeff Omondi assisted by Mavita Ali will most definitely have to come up with a consistent winning formula from the play-off quarter finals through to the finals. But it is going to be a matter of taking each game at a time. Intensity, team-work, hussle and guts are words that will often come in handy at this stage of the season.

The A1 Challenge team that will be expected to engineer a way through to the finals in search for their second ever championship will comprise of; Bazira Elizabeth, Aggie, Kabuji Larrisa, Irakoze Doreen, Lokidi Angellah, Kyomugisha Gloria, Mulwana Olivia, Okot Babra, Nakazibwe Sylivia, Kakkazi Carol, Mugasha Carol, Birungi Mariam, Nalubega Maggie, Ntale Vickie [captain], E.M. Fredrickah and Khisa Mary.

Match day is 26th Friday October at 18:30hrs and we will be bringing action live as it happens.

#live feed on the A1 Challenge FB group#

A1 CHALLENGE LEAVE AMAZON LADIES DEJECTED AFTER A 70:20 VICTORY

A1 Challenge played their last game of the regular season on a hot Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm.


The A1 Challenge outfit played host to Amazon Rhino's who were also looking to stage a fight for different other reasons.


The team looked changed from the usual starting five we all are used to but if theres anything to smile about its the return of Kabuji Larrisah, whose arrival is just in time for the play offs.


If its anything to smile about, wait till we say she was arguably the man-of-the-match. Having a decent game both offensively and defensively, and also amassing a game high 12 points.


To her help in offensive duties, was Okot Barbra with 11 points and Birungi Mariam with 10 points and Nalubega Maggie with 8 points. Talk about collective responsibility.


Kakkazi Carol and Gloria Kyomugisha led the team on well stringing those defensively-splitting passes with the hawk-eye vision.


A1 Challenge literally outscored and outsmarted the Amazon Rhino ladies even if flashes of individual brilliance from Amazon's Belinda, who eventually run out of steam, gave them something to think about.


By the time of the final whistle, A1 Challenge won by one of their biggest margins, 70:20.


This confidence see's them burst into the play-offs relishing their chances of reaching far and hopefully God willing we'll be talking about the second championship since 2005.


But we all know it's too soon to start talking about the championship and the ladies best well know to take it one game at a time, lots of aspects of the A1 Challenge game to perfect before play-offs.


Well won ladies.

On to the next.

God Bless

Play-Off Time Is Here.....

A1 CHALLENGE PUT CRANE HIGH TO THE SWORD 65:30

On a day when the match was delayed because of lots of events the Crane High ladies came a little late but that wasn't going to stop the on-slaught that A1 Challenge had purposed to execute.

The first quarter if on paper was anything to go by, then we were surely preparing for an on-slaught, but the big-men weren't as lethal as expected and though the Crane High ladies were out-witted and out-sized, they tried time and again to run the A1 defense in abid  to stretch them alittle, thereby picking fouls which constituted to almost half on their points.

For A1 Challenge, a win is not good enough, but how every department performs considering the fact that play-offs are here, and its going to be a sure test of nerves, guts and resilience where by the most prepared and determined will bag the championship.

A1 Challenge have their last game this Saturday where they face Gladiators and hope to end the regular season on a high.

Angella Lokidi  8pts
Birungi Mariam 8pts
Nalubega Maggie 10 pts

MAGIC STORMERS STING A1 CHALLENGE 62:51

Our MVP for the Stormers game with 8 points

A1 Challenge came face to face with a barely changed Magic Stormers side, no different from the side they convincingly beat in the first round. But like the saying goes, once bitten twice shy, Sylivia Meeme and Desire with Carol were well aware of what to expect.


Prior to the game, Magic Stormers sat in 3rd position in the FUBA-Airtel league table and A1 Challenge placed at fourth. This in itself guaranteed one lots of wits, ego and block-buster action of sorts and the book makers were surely not far from the truth.


A1 Challenge outfit has clearly been struggling in as far as consistency is concerned. With hard work and resilience and effective team work, the play-offs just might be the time the odds work in their favor. On a lighter note, Bazira Liz played her heart out aggressively asserting her presence in as far as picking rebounds is concerned.


Twisting her ankle alittle bit in at the half-time mark, left the camp alittle worried, but she persisted through and came and played the last quarter though she was eventually fouled out along with Aggie and Birungi Mariam. Liz was ejected on her fifth foul with 8 points, which doesn't tell the whole story in as far as her performance on the day is concerned.


Another worry was when the A1 Challenge Ntale Vickie fell awkwardly on her arm and couldn't continue (the same wrist which was sore in the mid-week causing her to sit out of the training during the week). With Birungi Mariam, Bazira Liz and Aggie ejected and captain Ntale Vickie in excruciating pain to continue, the Magic Stormers sense an opportunity to press on a little harder and keep it tight at the back, because the game was now theirs to lose.


If A1 Challenge is going to take the 2nd championship this year, which is pretty competitive, then a major step-up in the entire team's performance is a MUST (defensively first and then offensively). From the on-set players should attack the game and the statement of urgency uttered on the bench so it's clear from the start.


Sylivia Meeme's had 13 points to her name and was key in their eventual win over A1 Challenge, avoiding a season double win by the A1 Challenge outfit.


Nalubega Maggie and M. Fredrikah didn't feature in the game against Stormers, apparently they were both ill. Quick recovery to you both and hope you are well ASAP.


All the best during the final game of the regular season against Crane High ladies on Saturday afternoon. There is no where else to go but UP so HARD WORK and RESILIENCE together with TEAM WORK can materialize the second championship for the club.

Nalubega Maggie says,"Not to worry, we are coming back strong" and we will be waiting come play-offs because there is a NEED and we look forward to see the general team REACTION.

Lokidi Angella ---10 points
Birungi Mariam---8 points
Bazira Liz    ------8 points
Ntale Vickie ------8 points