The UPDF Tomahawks were massacred by the Rezlife Saints, 71-49, in game 2 of the semifinals and they face elimination in game 3.

The Tomahawks were horrendous in multiple aspects of the game and the problems they experienced in the second half of game one followed them in game 2.

Rezlife Saints led the game 17-14 after the first quarter but it’s important to note that most of their baskets came from around the rim.

The speed with which Rezlife advanced the ball was too much and they scored a number of baskets with ease.

Defensively, they  made UPDF work on every possession and the Tomahawks found it very hard to penetrate the interior of the Saints.

Of the 20 Field Goal attempts that UPDF had in the game, 14 of them were from the 3-point line.

They scored just 2 of them and that was working in favor of the  Rezlife Saints.

In the second quarter, the Rezlife Saints made an 11-3 run in the final 4 minutes of the game and at the halftime break, they led the game 35-28.

The situation became tough for UPDF Tomahawks in the third quarter as they scored just 1 field goal in the first 6 minutes of the quarter.

Rezlife Saints made a 12-0 run to make it a 19-point game halfway through the quarter.

During the third quarter, Power went off and at that time, Rezlife had been with the momentum.

Many thought that this Power disruption could have an effect on the Rezlife Saints momentum but that wasn’t the case.

The fourth quarter was very untidy for both teams but Rezlife still had the edge.

UPDF had 8 turnovers and Rezlife registered 6 but in the final 3 minutes of the game, the Saints closed the quarter with a 10-2 run to finish the game 71-49.

UPDF Tomahawks

Andrew Gang 11 pts, 15 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Vincent Mubiru 9 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, 5 stl

Rezlife Saints

Gideon Kasasa 13 pts, 1 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl

Leonardo Gilabi 14 pts, 11 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk

Akena Deo 10 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl

Richard Anyunva 12 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl

Facts

The UPDF Tomahawks starting 5 scored just 9 points.

The Tomahawks attempted more shots from the 3-point line (36) than the 2-point line (35).

Talking  Points

Fast Break Points were very key in this game and UPDF scored just 2 fast break points compared to 18 for the Saints.

The Saints made sure to finish in transition and the easy baskets they scored more so in the first half came in very handy.

For UPDF, they were unable to make it count because Rezlife made it difficult for them and also made sure a defender in the back court foe such instances.

Additionally, most of the opportunities Rezlife got were from turnovers they forced UPDF into at the top and this made it easy to break away quickly and score easily.

Lack of Direction

In the fourth quarter, UPDF players showed heart but they seemed to lack direction.

They forced turnovers early in the quarter but every time they got they ball, they also turned it over.

Players need to step up

The starting 5 had just 9 points and this is a point of concern.

Okoth Henry who scored 19 in game one had just 3 points and 0/6, 3P.

Joel Muwonge had 0 points while Jonathan Obukunyang had 0 points and 3 turnovers.

Musiime Collin who came up huge in game 2 and 3 against Nkumba scored just 1 point and had 0/8 FG.

The Tomahawks players need to take a look at themselves in the mirror and see how to become better because their performance in game 2 was atrocious.

For Rezlife Saints, it was very good for them to have 4 players scoring in double-digits a thing they never had in the quarter-finals.

Despite Apugi (8 pts, 8 reb) being kept on a low, Leonardo Gilabi (14 pts, 11 reb) and Akena Deo ( 10 pts, 10 reb) came up huge each registering a double-double.

As the saying goes, the best form of defense is attack. The UPDF Tomahawks attack in game 2 was horrendous and their defense was shambolic thus the big defeat.