National Basketball League finals
Friday 24th ( Lugogo)
Lady Dolphins 52 Lady Jaguars 69
Namuwongo blazers 70 City oilers 76
Kampala, Uganda: Defending champions City Oilers and the JT Lady Jaguars got off to winning starts in the National Basketball League (NBL) Finals on Friday night, claiming crucial game one victories at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
In the men’s division, City Oilers battled past Namuwongo Blazers with a 76-70 win to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Star guard Chad Bowie was the standout performer, dropping a game-high 29 points to power the Oilers to victory, supported by Kurt Wegscheider (16 points) and Joseph Chuma (12).
“It’s very important to win game one,” said Oilers captain Ben Komakech after the match. “We know they’ll come back hard, but we’re focused on staying sharp and taking game two.”
Blazers Overcome Pre-Game Drama
The match almost failed to take place after the Namuwongo Blazers reportedly threatened to boycott the fixture over scheduling disagreements with FUBA regarding their Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) commitments in Tanzania.
However, the Blazers later agreed to play — just four hours before tip-off.
The tense buildup translated into a fiery start, with the Blazers racing to a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes. But the Oilers, led by Bowie’s sharp shooting, rallied back to close the first half 37-31 ahead.
Despite a spirited third-quarter fightback from the Blazers — powered by Joel Lukoji’s 22 points — the Oilers maintained composure in the final quarter to secure the win.
JT Lady Jaguars Dominate JKL Lady Dolphins
In the women’s finals, JT Lady Jaguars stunned defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins with a commanding 69-52 victory, taking a 1-0 lead in their own best-of-seven series.
Quick guard Sandra Wangeshi led the Jaguars’ offense with 15 points, while Shakira Nanvubya (13) and Sarah Ageno (10) added key contributions.
The Jaguars established control early, building a 25-16 first-quarter lead and maintaining dominance throughout. JKL’s Brenda Ekone (16 points) and Hope Akello (12) tried to rally the Dolphins, but the Jaguars’ tight defense limited their scoring to just 10 points in the final quarter.
“We came in with intensity and executed our plan,” said Jaguars coach Bobby Omondi. “But it’s just the start — JKL are champions for a reason, so we can’t relax.”
Focus Shifts to Game Two on Sunday
Both the City Oilers and JT Lady Jaguars will look to extend their series leads when Game Two tips off on Sunday, October 26, at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
FUBA has confirmed that the finals will run through next week, with games scheduled every two to three days, depending on team rest periods and venue availability.
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