“Saving the Semester” is a term used at University when exams are about a week away and students are in panic mode, reading as much as they can to avoid bad grades let alone getting retakes. In simple terms, trying to fatten the bull just before the market day.

This is a similar situation in which Power, Livingstone, and JKL Dolphins are as the season reaches its tail end but the difference is that one of them is bound to face their worst fear, relegation.

With Ndejje already relegated, there is a spot for one more and the fact that Kampala Rockets have set themselves apart from these three, it’s most likely that one of them will be packing their bags to head to Division One for the 2025 season.

Status Quo

The JKL Dolphins performed better in the second round than they did in the first and they have so far won 4 games in 9 games, double the number they did in the first round. Over the weekend, they trailed by 15 after the first quarter against Namuwongo Blazers but they came back to within 2 and lost in the final minutes.

Livingstone got a huge 57:45 win against the UCU Canons and that put them in a much comfortable position as we head into the final stretch.

Power led by 3 with 4 seconds left but Moses Mugisha scored a huge 3-point shot to tie game and send it to overtime and eventually Our Savior won the game 81:77.

Permutations

Power has a season record 6-15 and with one game left against  Livingstone, they must win so as to increase their chances of survival.

Livingstone has 7-13 on the season and is on course to surviving relegation. Their 2 remaining games are against Power and City Oilers and if they can get the job done against Power, they will have sealed their survival and condemned Power to relegation.

JKL Dolphins 6-14  are another team in a difficult position but they can still redeem themselves with a victory against JT Jaguars and or KIU Titans.

If the JKL Dolphins win both games, they will have survived relegation and in case they win just one and Power also win one, with Livingstone losing both their games, all the 3 teams will be tied on 7 wins for the season and head to head shall be considered.

Head to Head

Power 72:64 JKL Dolphins

Power 46:72 JKL Dolphins

Livingstone 84:59 JKL Dolphins

Livingstone 64:51 JKL Dolphins

Livingstone 65:58 Power

Livingstone is has the better head to head of the 3 teams and they have the highest luxury given that even they have a win more than the other 2 teams.

JKL Dolphins has a better head to head compared to Power and that means they are also in a more comfortable place, given that they have 2 games left while Power just has one.

If Livingstone win just one of their remaining 2 games, they will have ensured their survival and could increase their chances of making the playoffs.

For Power to have a chance, they need to win their last game against and pray that JKL Dolphins lose both their games.

In case Power and JKL Dolphins lose their remaining games, Power will get relegated because JKL Dolphins have a better head to head.

If JKL Dolphins win one of their remaining 2 games, they will have ensured their survival and Power will go down.

The significance of any of the three teams getting relegated is very big as each of them has something unique in terms of history in Ugandan basketball.

Power is the only other team to have won the Championship that is in the league, in case they get relegated, it would mean that City Oilers will be the only team to have won the NBL that will be currently in the NBL unless there’s a different winner this season and that Falcons gets promoted to the NBL.

Livingstone is one of the oldest teams in the NBL and after 20+ years, they finay got promoted to the NBL. In case they get relegated after one year up, the club may get into another slumber.

JKL Dolphins just got new ownership and also after a person making such a huge investment and the team goes down, they would have lost a lot.

For all the teams involved, there’s a lot of consequences and a lot is at stake.

JT Jaguars vs JKL Dolphins Saturday

KIU Titans vs JKL Dolphins Sunday

Power vs Livingstone Sunday.

The results from the game between Power and Livingstone will have a lot of consequences on who goes down and in case Power lose, they will go down.