The opening fixture of the Men’s playoffs between the Namuwongo Blazers and Our Savior is exactly what the doctor ordered and the fans were treated to a top tactical, entertaining and intense performance from both teams.

The Nam Blazers turned out victorious, with a 73-61 win but the final score doesn’t reflect how close, intense, and tight this game was.

Both teams came into this game knowing that if you take game one, you hold a big advantage in a 3-game series.

“If you win game one the pressure is off the team and it’s now on the other side” Nam Blazers Coach Stephen Nyeko said after the game.

Our Savior started stronger than Namuwongo but after adjustments by the coach, the tables turned and Jimmy Williams went on a 6:0 run to give the Blazers a 2-point lead at  the end of the first quarter.

All was going well for the Blazers and they took an 11-point lead 3 minutes into the second quarter.

However, the Blazers began crumbling after the coach made a couple of substitutions. Chuol Nyuot and Alfred Okello came on for Jimmy Williams and Michael Makiadi and for the remaining 6 and a half minutes, the Blazers did not score a point.

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Our Savior picked up the momentum, they began scoring in transition, they made a 12:00 run and took the lead going into halftime.

The third quarter was a seesaw game, with both teams trading baskets and making mini-runs.  What had been thought to be a low-scoring game opened up with both teams scoring the same number of points they scored in the entire first half in one quarter .

The Blazers scored 5 3-point shots, Innocent Ochera with 3 of those but  Our Savior was still executing well offensively and they a 2-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

After the first 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, Our Savior were out of gas and ideas. They weren’t executing as they had done in the previous quarter and the Blazers went on a roll.

It was an 18:7 run, with Our Savior scoring just 2 Field Goals in the final 7 minutes while Namuwongo scored 8 of their 11 attempts.

Talking points

The starting lineup of the Blazers was shaky. Richard Ongom, Paul Odong, Innocent Ochera, Chuol Nyuot and Arthur Wanyoto started together for the first time and so many people were surprised at the starters the coach had fielded.

The Blazers scored just 2 of their first 10 Field Goal attempts and the Coach mad3 a couple of substitutions after that.

The Blazers Coach Escodata data commented about that after the game, “Coming into this game, i really wanted the minutes shared”.

Our Savior had just 8 players available. This greatly affected them as they did not have many options to come and make an impact off the bench.

Four of their starting five players had over 30 minutes and in a game that is very tense, you need your best players to have a breather while the guys who are on can also impact greatly.

It is no wonder that Our Savior lost in the fourth quarter after having led at half time and also at the end of the third quarter.

The Nam Blazers also struggles of their own that kept them trailing for the first 3 quarters. The coach however made the necessary adjustments that got them over the hump in the final period.

“Fourth quarter i put back the team that i thought would hive me results and i requested them to step up on defense” Coach Escodata said after the game.

The players listened to the coach and executed because in the fourth quarter, Our Savior scored just 4 Field Goals.

Innocent Ochera scored crucial 3-point shots that helped the Blazers down the stretch and the coach was very impressed with him.

“What Ochera played today is exactly what I’ve always told him to play. I don’t anyone is complaining about his performance today”.

Jimmy Williams had a big game, a game high 20 points and the coach was also impressed though he insists he wants more.

“The way jimmy plays, it is what it is. He’s a scorer, a facilitator, he’ll drive to the hoop. For me i demand more. I demand more assists and scoring from him”

Match Stats

Nam Blazers

Innocent Ochera 17 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl

Joseph Chuma 12 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 4 blk

Jimmy Williams 20 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast

Our Savior

Henry Ssebagala 18 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl

Joseph Wacha 12 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl

Kenneth Mesho 8 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast

The 2 sides meet for game 2 on Wednesday 17th and hopefully Our Savior will have a full squad that day.

Coach Escodata also talked about what he needs his team to do in game 2.

“Defense. The defense that we played in the fourth quarter is what i want us to play from the first quarter”