Relegation drama, shock defeats & comebacks: NBL Saturday Review

The NBL Game Week 20 Saturday fixtures had a lot of drama as there was a further twist in the relegation battle and also a couple of shock defeats. The UPDF Lady Tomahawks opened the day with a victory against Kampala University and this win sealed their number 8 seed and they will be playing…

2bob Sports

June 26, 2024

2–4 minutes

National Basketball League

The NBL Game Week 20 Saturday fixtures had a lot of drama as there was a further twist in the relegation battle and also a couple of shock defeats.

The UPDF Lady Tomahawks opened the day with a victory against Kampala University and this win sealed their number 8 seed and they will be playing in the playoffs.

The Lady Tomahawks played hard from the get-go and they got a 14-point cushion after the first half. Despite Kampala University playing better in the second quarter, they couldn’t replicate the same in the second half where they scored just 7 points and 0 in the fourth quarter and the Lady Tomahawks won the game 25:70.

UPDF Lady Tomahawks forward Stella Marris Lunkuse led the scoring with 16 points while Nassimu Mutesi and Dorah Nakijjoba both added 12.

In the second game of the day, relegation-threatened Livingstone defeated the UCU Canons 57:45 to cool off the pressure and put themselves in an advantageous position with 2 games left.

Livingstone trailed by 8 at the halftime break in a low-scoring game but they improved greatly in the second while the Canons were worse, scoring just 17 points while Livingstone scored 37.

Amara Ariho led the scoring with 17 points while Bruce Okullo scored 15 points. Bismarck Okot was quiet on the offensive end with just 4 points but he delivered 9 rebounds and 6 steals on defense.

Norbert Okidi scored a team-high 15 points for the UCU Canons while Kevin Kasobya came second with 10.

Livingstone now has 7 wins and if they can pick a win in either of their remaining fixtures, their survival will be guaranteed. If they can win both remaining games, playoffs are a possibility.

The following game between Power and Our Savior had one of the most dramatic endings and to the Power faithful, it was as though a dagger was stabbed straight through their chests.

Power beat Our Savior in the first 3 quarters and they had a “comfortable” 14-point lead as the fourth quarter approached and by the look of things, the victory was within sight. However, Our Savior turned up and to make matters worse, Moses Mugisha scored a 3-point shot on the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

Power players had lost morale and Pysche and Our Savior walked away with an 81:77 victory.

Four of Our Savior’s players finished in double-digit scores, Moses Mugisha (19), Henry Ssebagala (18), John Focu Teko (13), and Dickson Asiku (10).

Clinton Omondi was exceptional for Power, 10 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 blocks while Soro Geoffrey had a game-high 19 points, 7 rebounds and Isaac Afidra finished with 15 points.

Power has their final game of the season against Livingstone and a victory is a must for them to increase their chances of survival. In case they lose and JKL Dolphins also loses all their remaining games, it will go down to head to head.

In the final game of the day, KIU Titans got their revenge against the KCCA Panthers and they did so in spectacular fashion, making a comeback in the second half.

The Panthers led the game 40:31 at the halftime break but the Titans turned up and put the game to bed.

Kasereka Tembo was a sensation, 29 points to his name with 7 3-pointers made. Mpiya Juf made a record of the highest dunks in a game this season with four.

KCCA Panthers’ Caesar Kizito had a team-high 15 points, while Aaron Trevour Ojoo came second with 10 points.

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