Power eyeing top prize in the second round

Dmark Power will tip off their National Basketball League second round against Namuwongo Blazers Friday night.

Currently lying eighth on the 12-team log, the five-time champions have eyes on a much improved second round and a good seeding for the playoffs.

Head coach Timothy Odeke is upbeat.

“Our expectation in the second round is to contend for the top prize,” Odeke said after the team’s session Thursday.

“I like our chances already. We are lying currently eighth on the table with a game in hand, but at the end of the first round, we were sixth, which is not a bad position,” he added.

“Given the new signings we have added, we’ll even have better chances of contending for the top prize.”

Against the Blazers, Power will unleash their two major signings, Congolese big man Elvis Mpeti and Nigerian guard Kevin Ogunjimi.

The five-time champions finished the first round with a 5-6 record and will have to do better in the second half of the season to stay in the playoffs spots.

The team has also let go of Jonathan Kasilimbi, Innocent Ocen and Keith Emoru.

Mpeti and Ogunjimi will be looking to inspire the team to its first championship since 2011.

But with City Oilers looking untouchable, KIU Titans beefing their squad, and the Blazers regaining momentum, winning the title for Power seems extremely unlikely.