Kampala, Uganda: Namuwongo Blazers ended their regular season in style, completing a commanding double over defending champions City Oilers with an 83-74 victory in a heated National Basketball League clash played on Friday at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The win cemented the Blazers’ position at the top of the standings, finishing with an impressive 19 wins and just three losses from 22 games, making them the team to beat heading into the playoffs.
The Oilers, on the other hand, were left nursing their 10th loss of the season and are now under pressure to win their final regular-season game to guarantee a place in the playoffs.
The Blazers started strong, with Innocent Ochera’s layup closing out a dominant first quarter where they led 25-16. The Oilers looked shaky, committing eight turnovers in the opening frame, three of which came on inbounds. Blazers capitalized on these errors, scoring 12 points off turnovers alone.
Despite the rocky start, the Oilers showed great fight in the second quarter, reducing the gap to just five points at halftime (42-47), powered by Edgar Munaba’s incredible 20-point performance before the break. Joel Lukoji and Peter Obleng were equally impactful for the Blazers with 11 and 9 points, respectively in the first half.
The third quarter brought the game to life. Fayed Baale electrified the Oilers crowd with two quick three-pointers to tie the game at 50-50. But the Blazers remained composed, holding on to a narrow 60-59 lead heading into the final quarter after a clutch jumper from Benjamin Kawumi.
With under two minutes to play, Tonny Drileba silenced the Oilers’ crowd with a long-range three that pushed the Blazers’ lead to 79-70, effectively ending any hopes of a late comeback.
At full time, Joel Lukoji led the Blazers in scoring with 17 points, followed by Anthony Chukwurah (14), Moses Mugisha (13), and Peter Obleng (11). For City Oilers, Edgar Munaba dropped a game-high 25 points, while Fayed Baale added 16.
This result leaves the Oilers at 11-10 and needing a win in their final game against JKL Dolphins to secure a playoff slot in what has been one of their most challenging seasons.
Saints Baptize the Leopards in 20-Point Blowout
In the other game of the evening, Rezlife Saints humbled the struggling KCCA Panthers with a dominant 79-59 victory at the same venue.
The Saints raced to an early 11-0 lead and never looked back, leading 24-16 after the first quarter and stretching the gap to 46-31 by halftime.
Despite KCCA’s efforts to apply full-court pressure in the second half, Rezlife remained composed and continued to punish their opponents, extending the margin to 57-41 by the end of the third.
Francis Kasinde led the Saints’ scoring spree with 20 points, supported by Christopher Omanyi (15), Michael Otieno (12), and Suka Fadul (12).
KCCA had only two players in double figures—Toussaint Mampuya with 16 points and Ivan Lumanyika with 11—as they failed to match the Saints’ energy and execution.
The win marked Rezlife’s 10th of the season, keeping them in the race for a playoff spot as the regular season nears its dramatic conclusion.
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