Nam Blazers maintain perfect start to NBL season

National Basketball League

Men
Blazers 126-70 KIU Titans
Victoria Crocs 64-57 JT Jaguars
Rezlife Saints 58-48 Livingstone

Women
Nabisunsa 65-56 Angels
Miracle Eaglets 101-54 Nkumba L
UPDF Lady  52-69 JT Lady Jaguars

Upcoming Fixtures( Friday 11th)

Lugogo Indoor Arena

JKL Lady Dolphins vs UCU Lady Canons (7:00pm)
KCCA Panthers vs UCU  Canons  (9:00pm)

Namuwongo Blazers have extended their unbeaten run to five games in the National Basketball League (NBL) season with a commanding 126-70 victory over a restructured KIU Titans side on Wednesday evening at Abja Park, Naalya.

The Blazers entered the game with unshakable confidence after winning their first four matches of the season.

Their opponents, the KIU Titans, who had eliminated the Blazers in a fiery Game 5 of last season’s Semi-Final, are undergoing a period of transition following a significant overhaul of their squad.

After the withdrawal of financial support from FUBA president Nasser Sserunjogi, KIU’s roster has changed dramatically, with nearly all the players who reached last season’s finals departing.

The Blazers stormed out of the gates in the first quarter, establishing a commanding 36-11 lead.

They not only outplayed the Titans but also set a new benchmark in the NBL, becoming the first team this season to score over 120 points in a game.

Their 36-point first quarter tied their record for the most points scored in a single quarter this season.

 Namuwongo outscored KIU by five points in the quarter, finishing the first half with a dominant 64-34 lead. By halftime, the game was essentially decided.

“I am proud of my players for stepping up when it mattered most. KIU Titans gave us a tough challenge, and we respect that,” Nyeko said.

“But this is just one step forward. We’ll stay focused, keep improving, and prepare for what’s next,” he adds.

The KIU Titans, on the other hand, are struggling in the early stages of the season.

 Their squad overhaul has left them vulnerable, and after losing their first three games to Livingstone, JKL Dolphins, and Namuwongo, survival in the top flight now seems to be their primary concern.

KIU’s reshaping of their basketball program, which now features only student-athletes, has left the team in a difficult position.

Notable departures from the Titans include Collins Kasujja, Peter Obleng, Joel Lukoji, Kasereka Tembo, and Mpiya Juf.

Namuwongo Blazers have emerged as one of the early favorites in the race for the NBL title.

The Blazers are the only team this season to score 25+ points in every quarter of a game.

Namuwongo is next set to face the Kampala Rockets on Wednesday, April 16, at Abja Park.

Elsewhere in the league, JT Jaguars suffered a surprise 64-57 defeat to Victoria Crocs at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.

The Crocs edged out the Jaguars , holding on to a slim lead through the final minutes.

 With seven minutes left, Tong Obde tied the game at 47-all for JT Jaguars, but Ronald Ayume’s crucial three-pointer late in the game sealed the victory for Victoria.

In other NBL action, Rezlife Saints triumphed 58-48 over Livingstone.
Women’s games saw Nabisunsa triumph their first win of the season with a 65-56 victory over Angels at Abja Park, Naalya.

Joy Auma led the charge for Nabisunsa with a double-double performance, recording 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Abigail Mpoza contributed 27 points.

Another game saw Miracle Eaglets registering a commanding 101-54 victory over Nkumba, becoming the second team this season to surpass the 100-point mark.

 Mariam Namukwaya led the Eaglets with 32 points and 7 rebounds, while Akello Winnifred added 22 points and 21 rebounds.

At the Lugogo Indoor Arena, JT Lady Jaguars secured a 69-52 victory over UPDF Lady Tomahawks. 

The Jaguars maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game, with UPDF unable to close the gap in the second half.

Looking ahead, Friday’s fixtures see JKL Lady Dolphins take on UCU Lady Canons at 7:00pm, followed by KCCA Panthers facing UCU Canons at 9:00pm at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.

In their previous playoff encounter, UCU Canons defeated KCCA Panthers 82-52 in Game 3 of the 2024 NBL Playoff Quarterfinals, and the Panthers will be looking to exact revenge in their upcoming clash.