Zone V Club Basketball ChampsSemi-finals, menEspoir (Rwa) 67-54 Power (Uga) Semi-finals, womenEagle Wings 76-44 KCCA KPA 73-44 UCU TodayFinal, Men Espoir vs Urunani (Bur)Women Eagle Wings vs KPA On the lips of every Ugandan basketball fan right now is just one name ‘Rwanda’s number 8’ for his name is not known among many a fan. Aristide Mugabe inspired Espoir past Uganda’s Power 67-54 in the men’s first semi-final on Friday evening at the Lugogo Indoor stadium in Kampala, Uganda.Aristide, who played the entire game sunk a game high 26 points, picked seven rebounds and five assists to overwhelm the reigning Ugandan league champions Power in a game that was interrupted by a power blackout for more than 30 minutes at half time.Espoir outscored Power 20-6 in the first quarter but a comeback from the Ugandans saw them score 15-11 in the second quarter. Mugabe, Jean Claude Habineza and Ally Barame combined to shoot eight three pointers in the second half to maintain a ten point lead the entire night.Espoir dominated the third quarter 26-16 but it was too late for Power to claim this game despite their 17-10 lead in the last quarter. Kami Kabange’s double double of 13 points and 12 rebounds and Habineza’s 12 points was also crucial in this win.Meanwhile, the reigning Zone V Club champions Urunani from Burundi stunned Kenya’s KCB 76-61 in the second semi-final on the same night to book a berth in the final and defend their title.Espoir will have to overcome Urunani in the final to clinch their first regional title in the history of the club.
