In the 2024 season, the JKL Lady defeated the UCU Lady Canons 4-2 to emerge as the champions.

However, there was some adversity for them on their way to the championship and for a moment in the finals, many thought they wouldn’t win.

The UCU Lady Canons had won the first 2 games and the pressure was on the Lady Dolphins.

However, they managed to win the next 4 games and close out the series.

The team that won that championship has been a bit different from the team that has played throughout the season.

Becky Longom and Ritah Imanishimwe injuries that saw them out for long periods.

Brenda Ekon missed the entire regular season due to work commitments.

Evelyne Nakiyingi missed a couple of games and also Flavia Oketcho was unavailable for large segments of the regular season.

The JKL Lady Dolphins have had to rely heavily on Hope Akello, Zainah Lokwameri, Tamasha Nsubuga, Agatha Kamwada, Shadiah Nassanga and Shamilah Nakiyaga.

The group that played most of the regular season found a winning formula but that may be alternated in the semi-finals.

During the quarter-finals, we saw  Ekon, Ritah, and Oketcho all suit up and getting significant minutes.

No one knows how the team shall set up in the semifinals and there is a question left to be answered.

Will the coach stick to what has been working or will the ‘veterans’ who had been away for most of the season retake their place in the team?

For the UCU Canons, the team that played in the 2024 finals has changed a bit.

Shakirah Nanvubya, Tracy Namugosa and Aziida Nabayunga who were top contributors all left.

This time around, different players on the team have been asked to step up and they have done so.

Martina Anyango and Sylivia Nantongo have all improved significantly.

The one player that has carried the team for stretches is Shillah Lamunu.

A lot has been asked of her and she has done her part but can she carry the team to the finals?

This series will be a very interesting one to watch because both teams have relatively young players who we’ve seen throughout the season.

However, the Lady Dolphins have veterans who have won multiple championships and can change games.

The 2 teams shall be sizing each other up in game one and how the coaches set up will be interesting to watch.

The last time these 2 teams met, the UCU Lady Canons won 71-67.

In that game, Hope Akello dropped 31 points but that wasn’t enough.

For UCU, Millicent Otieno had 17 points, Sylivia Nakituuka 16 points and 12 rebounds while Shillah Lamunu registered 10 assists and 9 rebounds.

Who claims game one?

Game tips off at 9:00 pm at YMCA.