HOIMA (Uganda) - The Road to BAL East Division Group D matchup between the Namuwongo Blazers and the COSPN at the Hoima City Arena featured a competitive first half of basketball.
After COSPN scored the first basket of the game, the Blazers responded with a 13-0 run, but the Madagascar side never folded and responded mostly through Nigerian guard Ikenna Okeke, who dazzled from behind the arc, hitting four 3-pointers.
The Blazers were not particularly impressive defensively in the first half, as COSPN easily found their way to and around the basket. Unlike the first game, coach Luis Lopez’s rotation focused on combinations, mixing up the local stars with the internationals.
In the second half, Namuwongo clamped down on COSPN’s offense, seizing full control early in the third quarter and never looking back.
Offensively, Makhtar Gueye’s pair of 3-pointers to start the second half put the Blazers on the path to the blowout victory in which Fataki Nyembo, Peter Olisemeka and Peter Obleng also scored in double figures.
The concern for Coach Lopez and his staff going into tough fixtures against Patriot and Urunani over the weekend should be free-throw shooting. Namuwongo once again shot poorly from the line, going 19-for-33 after a 14-for-24 shooting against Ushindzi.
Despite an improved outside shooting compared to the opener, the conversion is still low for a side that creates wide-open outside looks.
Next Up
COSPN face Patriot on Friday, and for Coach Tojo Rasamoelina and his charges, the key is to maintain the intensity on both ends of the court.
Meanwhile, the Blazers will take Friday off and return to action on Saturday to battle Patriot.
FIBA