The relegation battle for the 2026 NBL season took a turn on Martyrs day as all the 3 teams were in action and there were mixed results.

JKL Dolphins were the biggest winners on the day as they are the only team that secured a win. They defeated already relegated Kampala Rockets 114-75 to move to 6 wins in the season. Their 114 points was also the most points scored by a team in a game this season. They now have a 6-15 record.

Following their win against the JT Jaguars, the UPDF Tomahawks were up against the 10-time champions, the City Oilers, and they sought to make an upset. After the first quarter, the game was tied at 17 points apiece. In the second, the Tomahawks kept close to the Oilers as they trailed by just 2 points.

However, the Oilers slipped away at the end of the third quarter. The Tomahawks were scoreless in the final 3 minutes of the third and the Oilers took an 8-point lead. In the fourth, the army side was chasing wind and the game ended 78-60. UPDF Tomahawks now have a 5-15 record.

The UMU Flames missed an opportunity to move out of the relegation zone after falling to Sommet who just had changes in coaching staff. The university side would have moved to 5 wins but couldn’t get the job done.

After the first quarter, Sommet led 21-20 but they peeled away in the second after outscoring the Flames by 10 points to take an 11-point lead. In the second half, UMU tried to fight but could not make a comeback. UMU Flames now have a 4-16 record and survival for them is still on the line.  

Who survives relegation?

Currently, JKL Dolphins have 5 wins and face the Rezlife Saints in their final game of the season. If they win that game, they survive relegation. However, if either UPDF or UMU Flames lose 1 of their remaining games, the Dolphins ensure survival.

The only way in which JKL can be relegated is if they lose their game against Rezlife while UPDF and UMU Flames each win their remaining 2 games. That would mean that, UPDF move to 7 wins, UMU to 6 wins whereas JKL remain on 6 wins. Since UMU owns the tiebreaker, they would be ahead of the JKL Dolphins.

UPDF Tomahawks have a 5-15 record and face the UCU Canons and the Victoria Crocs in their final games of the season. If they are to survive relegation, they need the UMU Flames to lose their remaining 2 games. Additionally, if UPDF win 1 of their last 2 games and UMU Flames lose 1 game, UPDF survive. In case UPDF win both their remaining games, they survive.

If UPDF win 1 of their remaining games and UMU Flames win both, UPDF get relegated. If UPDF lose both their games and UMU win just 1, UPDF get relegated.

Having defeated them in round one, UPDF will have a lot of confidence when they take on the UCU Canons. In addition, the Victoria Crocs is a team with which they can go toe-to-toe and they will fancy their chances.

The UMU Flames do not have their survival in their hands. They need to win their games but also hope that UMU and JKL falter. If they win both their remaining games and JKL lose against Rezlife, UMU automatically survive. If they win 1 game and UPDF lose both their game, they also survive.

The UMU Flames have to make sure that they take care of business when they face the Kampala Rockets and upset the Jaguars who have been largely poor.

The relegation battle is very interesting and will go down to the wire. Who survives?