Undoubtedly the best offensive game this NBL season as the Namuwongo Blazers took on the UCU Canons.

The Canons came into the game having defeated Power, 92:72, and their confidence was high as they had defeated the Namuwongo Blazers 65-53 in the first round.

The Blazers had been on a 5 game winning streak but 3 of their game had been won with less than 5 points. They were out on a mission, to get revenge and also show that they are becoming a much better team, one that is serious about winning the title.

After an even first quarter with both teams tied at 25 points, Joseph Chuma engaged another gear in the second quarter.

He scored 14 consecutive points for the Namuwongo Blazers with 6 of 6 attempts in a span of 3 minutes and 22 seconds.

Despite all that, the UCU Canons were still in the game but Innocent Ochera and Peter Cheng put scored some big baskets and the Blazers took a 10-point lead to halftime.

It started raining 3-pointers for the UCU Canons in the third quarter, they scored all their 5 attempts in the third quarter and came within 2 points but Jimmy Williams hit a huge 3-point shot and also a layup to close the third quarter which changed the momentum.

With the momentum on their side, the Namuwongo Blazers made 7 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter and the lead bulged to 14 points.

The Canons went on an 11-2 run of their own to cut the lead down to 5 points.

However, it was the Blazers show there onwards.  They made an 11-0 run to make it a 16-point game and with 3 minutes left and the Canons were depleted.

The Namuwongo Blazers went on to win 109-93, setting the record foe most points scored and Joseph Chuma putting his name up there as the third player to score 30+ points this season.

Talking points

Turnovers and  Rebounding

The Namuwongo Blazers had to play an almost perfect game and this time round, their player were switched on for the entire game which hasn’t been the case in their 5  previous games.

The UCU Canons were very efficient from the Field with 35/62, 56% the highest of any losing team this season.

It is also among the highest Field Goal Percentages recorded by any team this season but the Blazers beat them in 2 aspects.

Namuwongo had 92 Field Goal attempts whereas UCU had just 62, a difference of 29 and however bad a team is, if they have 29 attempts more than you, they likely turn up victorious and the Nam Blazers were very far from poor.

The Blazers got these extra possessions from the UCU Canons turnovers and also out-rebounding them.

UCU had 23 turnovers, 13 more than the Blazers. Additionally, the Blazers had 10 more rebounds than UCU and to make it even more interesting, they had 16 steals compared to just 4 for the Canons. The Blazers scored 35 points from turnovers while UCU scored 13 and this sums up the UCU game despite being efficient from the Field.

Joseph Chuma splendid

Joseph Chuma was unstoppable scoring 33 points, scoring 15 of his 19 attempts. All his points came from the field, and he had 0 attempts on the free throw line.

In the first half, he scored 10/11 and he carried the Namuwongo Blazers offense for stretches particularly in the second quarter when he scored 14 straight points for them.

When Chuma is as hot as he was, the Namuwongo Blazers are a very difficult team to beat, and despite UCU being very efficient while shooting, the Blazers had more weapons with Chuma as their primary weapon.

“I told him, do what you do. Each time he gets off the screen, he starts to struggle, i told him to shoot the ball and play his game”.

Jimmy D. Williams Magical

Jimmy Williams made his return to the league and on his debut, he made some magical moves.

In the first half, he scored 13 points and in the scored half he scored 9. However, his biggest contribution was the assists, a game-high 10.

In the fourth quarter, he was used as a point guard and on most possessions, he attacked the basket, drawing defenders and then kicking out to his open teammates. He had 5 assists in the  fourth quarter alone and it could have been more but some of the shooters failed to make the shots count.

The Nam Blazers guards haven’t been lethal and a player like this could change a lot for the Blazers, in terms of a guard who can score, assist, and rebound for you in the same game with fewer turnovers (he had 0 turnovers). 

The coach Escodata was full of praise for him at full time.

“He brings a lot of good basketball. He looks out for his teammates, he is not selfish, he’s a play maker, he brings the team together. It’s good to have him back, he’s been in this league before, he’s been with the same players and he know what to do going forward”

Richard Ongom impact

Richard Ongom made his return and he brought a lot of energy defensively. He had the highest +/- with 24 in 20 minutes played.

The Head Coach  Escodata expressed how important Ongom is for the team.

“That is the piece we’ve been missing the most and I’m glad that he’s back into the rotation and he has given us good minutes in the game” he said.

Match Stats

Nam Blazers

Joseph Chuma 33 pts, 15/19, 79% FG, 5 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl, 1 blk

Jimmy Williams 22 pts, 10 ast, 5 reb, 3 stl

Peter Cheng 17 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl

Michael Makiadi 11 pts, 11 reb, 2 ast

UCU Canons

Lwabaga Ibanda 24 pts, 1 reb, 3 ast, 3/3 100% 3P

Kevin Kasobya 19 pts, 5/6 83% 3P, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl

Peter Sifuma 17 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk

Match Facts

The Namuwongo Blazers scored 100 points for the first time this season. They become the third team (men) to reach this feat.

The Blazers also have now set the record for most points in a game (men) with 109 after breaking KIU Titans 106.

UCU Canons is the first team to lose a game despite scoring 90+ points.

They are also the first team to lose a game this season while shooting more than 55% from the field.

For the first the this season,  a game has seen both teams score 90+ points.