Nkumba Lady Marines defeated Our Savior Banyabo 58-41 in game 6 to tie the series 3-3 and force game 7.

Banyabo came into the game on a 3-game winning streak and with their momentum, most people thought they’d  close out the series but, things didn’t go as planned.

Banyabo scored just 8 points in the first quarter while Nkumba scored 10.

In the second quarter, Banyabo still scored just 4  Field Goals and Nkumba took a 7-point lead at halftime.

Nkumba Lady Marines led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter and they never looked back.

Banyabo looked devoid of energy in the fourth quarter and they never looked like they’d catch up.

Mellisa Kyazze and Shalom Jairah kept making very big plays for Nkumba and they helped them secure a 17-point victory.

Coaches Reactions

Our Savior Banyabo head coach Angella Namirimu on the energy-less performance that her side displayed;

“I don’t know if it’s fatigue or exhaustion but today’s games showed that the Ladies’ bodies weren’t moving. It wasn’t just about the mental but also the physical”

When asked if the players were anxious for the game, Coach Angella replied;

“There was no anxiety. If there was, whatever they (Our Savior players) were doing would have been done with energy”

About the adjustments that they need to make ahead of game 7, Coach Angella emphasizes the mental aspect. 

“We just have to get in the right mental state to come compete and fight”

What would winning the championship mean for Our Savior?  Coach Angella had the answer to that.

“It means a great deal for the program. We shall be taking the gospel to the NBL and sharing his (God’s) love in the NBL.

It is more than just basketball. There is a bigger purpose that God is taking us there (NBL) for”

Coach Timothy Odeke reacted to their big win in game 6.

“It’s a big relief. It gives a chance to properly compete for the title” he said.

Shalom Jairah Muwanguzi was the top performer in this game because of how well she controlled the game.

She missed out on a triple-double by 1 assist, and finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.

In the previous games, she made very many turnovers that resulted into easy points for Our Savior but this time around, despite making 9 turnovers, most didn’t result into points for the Banyabo.

“She didn’t take care of the ball well in the last couple of games and we had so many turnovers coming from her department. She must have beaten herself up and was very cautious”

Another player who rose to the occasion was Catherine Nakimuli who played the full game and finished with 8 points, 4/4 FT, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.

Nakimuli was underwhelming in the previous games which caused the coach to take her to the bench but she rose the occasion.

“She’s the only big we had. It must have been a mental elevation on her part to double up her efforts”

During the game, youngster Mary Hazel and Faith Apio collided and  Mary was taken to the hospital. The coach provided an update on her status;

“She got a deep cut and needed stitches but she’ll be okay”

Match Stats

Our Savior Banyabo

Gimbo Barbra 11 pts, 15 reb, 2 stl

Vivian Onyami 8 pts, 15 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl

Phiona Apio 8 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast

Nkumba Lady Marines

Mellisa Kyazze 21 pts, 13 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk

Shalom Jairah Muwanguzi 10 pts, 13 reb, 9 ast

Catherine Nakimuli 8 pts, 10 reb, 4 stl, 1 ast, 1 blk

Facts

Only 6 players played for the Nkumba Lady Marines and 3 of them played the full 40 minutes.

For the first time in the playoffs, Nkumba converted 0 attempts from the 3-point line.

Our Savior Banyabo also did not score any of their 27 3-point shot attempts.