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National Basketball League | Results

UCU Lady Canons registered a 68-61 victory against UPDF Lady Tomahawks in the National Basketball League duel played at the Lugogo Arena on Wednesday, January 31.

The Lady Canons (2-0) extended their positive start to the campaign with now two victories in as many games played in the ongoing campaign.

Shillah Lamunu led the Lady Canons with 15 points and eight rebounds while Aziida Nabayunga as well dropped 15 points and six rebounds.

Christine Namyalo and Stella Maris Lunkuse scored 15 and 14 points respectively as the Lady Tomahawks tried to turn around the game late.  

The game started on a very slow note with either side struggling to convert. But still, UCU Lady Canons were the better side, creating an 11-point deficit at the end of the quarter (16-5).

The second quarter was more entertaining with both sides improving offensively. The Lady Canons finally got the ball dropping from outside the paint as the lead widened by 19 points (37-18) at the break.

Coming into the third quarter, the Lady Canons were on top of their game creating a 33-point lead with three minutes left to play. However, it was an electric end to the third quarter as Lunkuse dropped five points shortly after Namyalo’s big three-point jump shot as the Lady Tomahawks reduced the deficit to 25 points (59-34) at the end of the third quarter.

Namyalo’s jump shot from outside the paint got us underway into the final quarter breathing life into the Lady Tomahawks’ camp. It was their best block of the game as they dropped 27 points while they limited the Lady Canons to only nine.

It was interesting to see how Lady Canons head coach Nicholas Natuhereza trusted his bench to complete the game even when it looked like the Lady Tomahawks nearly took it at the death of the game.

The Lady Canons will return to action on Friday, February as they take on KCCA Leopard in a very tricky encounter.

UCU Lady Canons head coach Nicholas Natuhereza anticipates a tough duel against UPDF Lady Tomahawks in the National Basketball League duel that will be played at Lugogo Arena on Wednesday.

This will be the Lady Canons’ second league after easily going past Kampala University in week one of the ongoing campaign.

While speaking to MTN Sports, Natuhereza revealed that the team is ready to go and compete in the anticipated duel.

“The ladies are ready to compete and play the game tomorrow. It’s always good to start the season with a win and hope we can build on that,” he said.

“UPDF (Lady Tomahawks) may not have a reputation in the league but we have to take them seriously because it will be a tough duel. Hopefully, we will show that in how we play,” he added.

“They have had a good run but that was in a lower division and this is a different division. Our focus is dealing with them as much as we know them.”

Natuhereza also added that his team is blessed with several talents not having a spearhead to be given the mantle to carry the team.

“We can not say we have one or two players that are going to push us or are going to lead us every day. We expect different players to step up on different games because in the first game we gave as many players a chance.”

“Others will play way better than others due to experience so we shall discover which players those are but for now we need to just focus on playing as a team to improve,” he concluded.

JKL Lady Dolphins registered a 62-48 victory over KIU Rangers in Game 2 of the National Basketball League finals at YMCA Court, Wandegeya on Sunday.

The victory brought the best-of-seven series to level keeping the fans anticipating what lies ahead.

In game one, KIU Rangers walked away with a point lead (50-49) after Perus Nyamwenge’s clutch three-point shot to win it at the death.

However, the two-time champions returned well-motivated to regain their footing in the ongoing series.

KIU Rangers led the first quarter 16-15 but at half-time, they were trailing by six (24-30) as JKL Lady Dolphins ascended into the lead.

Coming back from the long break, the Lady Dolphins instead got stronger and won the third (16-10) and fourth (16-14) quarters respectively.

Becky Longom led the scoring board dropping 15 points and pulling down 18 rebounds to take home a personal double-double.

Hope Akello continued her stellar performance contributing 12 points and 19 rebounds in yet another double-double performance.

Brenda Ekone and Rita Imanishimwe were the other two able to score a double as each carded 10 points.

For the KIU Titans, only Nyamwenge scored in double figures after dropping 16 points.

The two sides will play in game three on Wednesday, October 18 at Lugogo Arena.

UCU Canons head coach Nicholas Natuhereza has revealed that now their focus switches to the playoffs after sealing their fate on the last day of the regular season.

It has not been the best of seasons for the Mukono-based side that needed a win on the last day to survive dropping to Division One.

Reaching this trying and testing moment left the basketball enthusiasts wondering about a side that has produced some of the finest talents in the country.

“It has not been the best season for us but now our attention switches to the playoffs,” Natuhereza said shortly after the end of the game.

“We put ourselves in this place. So it was still upon us to save the situation that we found ourselves in. It’s good to know that we have duly pulled off the assignment,” he added.

The Canons have the best basketball programs in the country. They have so far played the finals twice in 2015 and 2019 which proves the quality they possess.

However, Coach Nicholas pointed out a few reasons that have dragged them behind where he outlined his continuous movement among those.

“There are a number of reasons that have placed us in this trying moment. But I guess even my continuous movements have not done well for the team.”

“I thank the players for working hard to pick this win. But the fans have also turned up in large numbers and I wish they keep doing so even in the upcoming games,” he concluded.

The Canons finished the regular season with 10 wins and as many losses.

In the NBL Playoffs fixture, the Canons will face off against D-Mark Power.

It was judgment day for UCU Canons as they fought for their life on the last day of the National Basketball League regular season.

UCU Canons registered a 79-69 win against well-motivated KCCA Panthers in a close contest at YMCA Court on Wednesday evening.

The Mukono-based side came into the contest knowing a loss would drop them into the lower division.

KCCA Panthers got their shooting preparation right and it was evident as they led the first quarter 27-24.

But the Canons got better as the game went on and they got into the driving seat before the umpire sent the two sides in the long break.

The scoreboard read 47-41 in favor of Coach Nicholas Natuhereza’s troops.

It was in the third quarter when the gap hugely widened to 72-54 as UCU Canons ran away with the game.

The Canons failed to drop a single point in the first six minutes of the final quarter but that hardly changed much as they managed to hold their nerves to pick the vital win.

Peter Sifuma put up a thrilling show as he dropped 20 points and pulled down as many rebounds making him the king of the paint.

Rogers Dauna and Jimmy Otim added 15 and 12 points respectively to award the Canons the much-needed win.

Salim Kasilu topped the Panthers scoring sheet with a game-high of 25 points.

Martin Baluma and Abel Omongin added 10 each as the Panthers went down fighting.

The Canons turned up with a rare crowd that rallied the team and it was a lovely night as they travelled back to Mukono with a victory.

NBL Playoffs Fixture

Rezlife Saints suffered their eighth straight loss in the National Basketball League (NBL) at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday.

D-Mark Power registered a 77-71 victory against the Saints who sunk further on the 12-team NBL log.

With four games to play, the Lubowa-based side has their chances to play in the NBL next season hanging on a thin thread.

Rezlife’s remaining fixture will see them tussle out JKL Dolphins, Ndejje Angels, UPDF Tamahwaks, and Namuwongo Blazers as they seek a perfect run from all those outings.

Guellord Mobanza and Ozias Kikomba scored a game-high 17 points each while Elvis Ssentongo added 14 for the D-Mark Power.

For Rezlife, Emmanuel Okot harvested 15 points, Benjamin Kawumi and Ivan Ombiru contributed 12 before Claude Alisengawa added 10.

With two games to conclude the regular season, Power has managed to win 11 of their 20 games played while Rezlife suffered the 15th loss in the 18 games played so far.

National Basketball League

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Women

Men

City Oilers collected their 16th straight win after beating Rezlife Saints 84-41 in the National Basketball League at the Lugogo Arena on Wednesday.

Mandy Juruni’s troops are a house on fire and it seems they are not planning to run out of flames. The record champions are still unbeaten and are playing 16 games.

Jimmy Enabu scored a game-high of 14 points before Maker Mer Roor and Ben Komakech scored 13 and 10 points respectively hence sealing off the victory.

On the other hand, Rezlife suffered their fifth straight loss in the second round meaning they have not won a game since the season resumed.

They had no one with a double figure on the scoreboard, Micheal Otieno scoring a team-high of nine points. Claude Lubega and Benjamin Kawuni added six and five respectively.

Just like expected, the Oilers started on the front foot taking charge of the first quarter 17-9. At halftime, the Saints were trailing by a sum of 19 points (35-16).

In the second half, the Saints pulled up their stocking to score a double in the third quarter but still were on the receiving side by 10 (24-14).

At full-time, Daniel Juuko’s troops were trailing by 43 points in the one-sided game yet the Oilers hardly put in a shift to register this victory.

City Oilers are fifth on the 12-teamed log while Rezlife lie at the bottom of the log.

In the next fixtures, Rezlife take on Ndejje University while City Oilers’ duel against KIU will not be played since the games happening that weekend were postponed due to Afrobasket.

Federations of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) has postponed National Basketball League (NBL) games.

The development was made to allow all stakeholders be able to fully support the Gazelles that will be taking part of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2023 .

The continental showdown will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from July 28 to August 6 in the ongoing year.

According to the letter dispatched by Hudson Ssegamwenge, the General Secretary of FUBA.

“The Senior National Women’s Team (Gazelles) is schedules to take part in the upcoming FIBA Women’s Afrobasket championship on the 28th of July 2023 to the 6th of August 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda,” the letter partly read.

According to the letter, the league games before July 28 will go on as scheduled and later the break will get underway.

“This serves to inform all teams, club presidents, team managers, athletes, FUBA officials and all other stakeholders that the Senior National Women’s Team is scheduled to take part in the Afrobasket,” the letter added.

“Therefore, all different league fixtures across all divisions scheduled to take place between July 27 to August 7 2023 are hereby postponed to enable the basketball fraternity fully support the team. All league activities shall resume on August 8 2023,” it concluded.

In the Afrobasket, the Gazelles are pooled in group C alongside Mali and Senegal.

Their fast outing will be against Mali on July 29 before taking on Mali a day later at the fascinating BK Kigali Arena in Rwanda.

JKL Dolphins registered a thumping 77-55 victory against KIU Rangers in the National Basketball League at YMCA Court on Friday.

Perus Nyamwenge topped the scoreboard with 20 points and five rebounds but it was not enough to give the Kasanga-based side a victory.

For the Dolphins, Ritah Imanishimwe had 15 points while Taudenciah Oluoch and Flavia Oketcho scored 12 and 11 respectively.

Last year’s runners-up had a great start to the game hence setting the required momentum into the game.

The Dolphins started on the driving seat to lead 23-8 at the end of the first stanza.

The KIU Rangers tried to fight back in the second stanza but only fell short by three 22-19 hence trailing by 18 points (45-27) going into the long break.

The Dolphins lost steam in the second stanza and only lead the third frame by two points 15-13 just like the fourth 17-15.

The victory improved Dolphins’ record to 12-2 after playing the 14th game while the Rangers’ record now stands at 11-4 in the ongoing campaign.

The victory keeps the Dolphins in the third position while the Rangers lie fourth.

Namuwongo Blazers registered a convincing 66-47 victory against UCU Canons in the National Basketball League at the YMCA Court, Wandegeya on Friday.

The victory meant Namuwongo Blazers have now sealed a seventh straight win in a row hence glueing the side on top of the 12-teamed log.

Peter Cheng and new signing Williams Jimmy D led the scoring board with 18 points each.

Jimmy D went 5-for-12 from the two-point mark and two-for-six outside the paint hence harvesting 18 points in his second show for his new side.

While Cheng added nine rebounds hence being named the player of the game.

Micheal Makiadi rose highest to grab 18 rebounds ensuring possession remains in the hands of the Blazers.

For the Blazers, Joel Kayira, Lwabaga Ibanda and Jimmy Otim scored a double posting 12, 11 and 10 points respectively.

Kayira went ahead to pull down 19 rebounds to take charge of the paint.

The Canons missed the services of their gaffer Nicholas Natuhereza as well as forward Rogers Dauna and centre Peter Sifuma.

The Canons took charge of the first quarter to lead 16-11 before the Blazers timely responded taking charge of the second quarter 17-11 thus edging the former by a point before the long break (38-37).

Blazers were on fire in the third quarter (23-11) before they sealed their victory in the final frame (15-9).

It’s the third loss for the Mukono-based side that has previously lost to Ndejje University Angels and KIU Titans.