A1 CHALLENGE BAG FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON.

@A1 CHALLENGE  62:40  MAKERERE SPARKS

Birungi Mariam led the on-slaught against Makerere Sparks with a game high 13 points.

 
A1 Challenge return to their intense routine training with optimism after bagging their first 2013/14 season win. Truly testament to the fact that tough times never last. 

Having gone 0-3, losing to KCCA Leopards, Magic Stormers and most recently KIU Rangers, the nuts had to be tightened and intensity was turned on right from the whistle sound.

As if the win wasn’t enough, A1 guard Nakazibwe Sylvia stirred up the crowd having come on court with about 6 seconds remaining in the first quarter only to sink a buzzer beating shot from the centre of the court, for the play-of-the-day most definitely.

By half time the score was at [38:16] making it easy for Coach Jeff Omondi to easily rotate the players while resting his starting five. A1 Challenge led the first, second and fourth quarter to seal the victory.

With their next game against KCCA Leopards on Sunday, it was important for their confidence that they bagged this win. Having played decently against KCCA Leopards despite the loss, they will grab on to this opportunity as a chance to serve the defending champions a taste of their own medicine and really cold.

However, this is not an easy task to ask. As lethal as they have to be offensively, defense will win this one if you ask me. So the question is how tight can they be at the back and how precise are they going to be when executing offense?

It’s important to note that there were improvements in the shooting overall as opposed to their previous two games which is a plus. They averaged 66.7% to 42.9% in the shooting department.

Also defensively, the steals and turnover numbers were much improved. Against the big opponents, it’s these little details that make all the difference, as was the case with Rangers [52:54] loss.

Birungi Mariam scored a game high 13 points, closely assisted by Okot Barbra with 12 and Agnes Nantongo with 11 points.

Sparks side, which is clearly in transition having lost a number of players in the off season, had Mirembe Susan and Chemutai Joy score 11points each. In case you were wondering YES this is the Chemutai Joy formerly of Nabisunsa Girls. Come to think of it the Sparks side recruited massively from Nabisunsa with players like Joy Chemutai, Ashaba Maggie and Nababuza Treasure [small guard] all joining from Nabisunsa Girls School.

Makerere Sparks side have to go back to the drawing board and figure out a winning formula seeing that this Friday graces us with an all-university show down between Sparks and Rangers.
 

A1 Challenge next face KCCA Leopards [2-June-2013] at Lugogo Indoor Stadium

 

@a1challenge.makereresparks

Match Day IV
@a1challenge.makereresparks


One basketball great once said,"To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail."


Well having said that, A1 Challenge having lost three in three approach this game with extreme caution and purpose. This comes close to one of the worst starts to a basketball season for the 2005 Champions.


The game originally slated for 17:30hrs on Sunday has of course since been pulled forward to 15:30hrs with the venue also being changed from Lugogo Indoor Arena to YMCA Courts,
 


Olivia Mulwana has been sparkling with consistency in her play though it counts for little considering the 3 losses. Also worthy of a mention is Nantongo Agnes who has been making the most of whats been given to her. 


With Bazira Liz and Lokidi Angella out of the picture for now, Ntale Vickie has had to help in the putting of scores to the board.


Makerere Sparks has come a long way this season, having lost Kalanguka Bridget to Magic Stormers and Karungi Charlyn to KCCA Leopards and Hellen who is off the game for now. They have had to depend on one or two recruits from their junior side Cubs.


Sparks with a [62:35] win to their name against Gladiators face winless A1 Challenge, who are going to come out hard to snap out of this jinx....lets hope.


A1 Challenge will have to look towards their more experienced players in Mulwana Olivia, Okot Barbra, Ntale Vickie and Agnes Nantongo for inspiration, because if there's one thing we know its that a win is long over due.

Also the fact that points have to be shared across the starting five and off the bench. 


The slow start/finish to the game, is a luxury they can not afford to deal with right now. Intensity, Team work, precision in execution and resilience is what's going to spring up the first win. Easier said than done.....hmmmmm.


A1Cha 

 

KIU RANGERS PROLONG A1 CHALLENGE HEART ACHE WITH 54:52 WIN

 A1 CHALLENGE: 52: 54 KIU RANGERS
 
 A defeat is something really hard to take and going three games without a win doesn't help player confidence in the locker-room.


This season has been as hard as squeezing water out of a rock in the desert. Really hard times for A1 Challenge but again its going to be hard all the way. With the splitting of the league into two, hard work, sweat and heart is all that's going to re-vitalize the entire attitude in A1 Challenge camp.


For the KIU Rangers who are used to hussle and intensity, this win will add to their confidence against a side which is always tough to go past.


With the additions to the squad in Irakoze Aurora, Nakabubi Aisha and a familiar foe for the A1 Challenge in Fredrikah Nagita beefing up the already familiar seniors in Nansobya Judith, Nanyonga Florence and Amito Suza, KIU Rangers clearly has depth and wits.


Judith Nansobya (10pts), Amito Suza(15), Oyela Stella(9) and Nanyonga Florence(9) led the KIU offensive onslaught against A1 Challenge.

However, based on the statistics, A1 Challenge needs to collectively step up considering how Nantongo Agnes scored a game high 17points with Ntale Vickie chipping in with a meagre 9 points.


You do not need to be a rocket scientist to see that points need to be shared from the starting point through to the bench. Loss number three is enough sinking for a team of A1 Challenge's pedigree.


Overall shooting stats KIU Rangers edged A1 Challenge narrowly, which trickles down to other departments. Also the fact that KIU Rangers led the first two quarters and keep a tight defense, clearly which goes to say that A1 Challenge need to re-strategize to starting as hard as they finish.


Message for us all: Play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And we will not let anything get in the way of us and my competitive enthusiasm to win. It begins with us individually.



Next Fixture:


A1 Challenge  Vs  MUK Sparks at  17:30hrs Lugogo Indoor Stadium. 26-May-2013

@KIURANGERS.A1CHALLENGE [Game III]

The A1 Challenge lady outfit head into Lugogo Indoor Sports Arena to face the KIU Rangers outfit, looking to recover from their faulty 2-0 record losing streak. Coming into the game, A1 Challenge are on a two-game losing streak afflicted by KCCA Leopards and Magic Stormers.



The stats are worrying if its a template of what A1 Challenge has to offer. The viewing in A1 Challenge's is testament to the fact that A1 Challenge's ability to recover from a tough loss is unquestionable without a doubt. 


The tempo from the on-set has to be with a statement considering their recent resurgence which was a little too late considering Magic Stormers kept their score figures a far off from the A1 Challenge outfit, and their renaissance in the final quarter was too little too late.


Nakazibwe Sylvia, a starting point guard, and Barbra Okot with Dorothy Kyamazima with Captain Vicky Ntale and Agnes Nantongo as surrounding the players, have clearly to set the tempo of the game. Focus on the game and tightening up of loose end is paramount because that has so far been our biggest downfall.


With a 22.2% free throw shooting percentage and a 0% three point shooting percentage in their last game against Magic Stormers clearly bears testament to the fact that things have to change and the time is NOW.


With Mariam Birungi and Mulwana Olivia scoring 8 points each and Vicky Ntale joining Agnes Nantongo on 7 points a piece in their previous game against Stormers clearly shows that the numbers have to go up, collectively.  



In the back-to-back misery, we was worried that the previous loss plus the distractions surrounding the team might have affected play on the court, but it just hit me that this can work two ways; you either say this is as low as it gets and there is no where else to go but up OR sadly sulk in the misery. 


KIU Rangers also have beefed up and look to impress this season with their latest acquisition from Nabisunsa. Known for their hussle and resilience, this is going down to the wire.


The hungrier of the two will pocket this one. The question is who is that hungry?



Match III
18:30hrs
Lugogo Indoor Stadium