National Basketball League Finals
Tuesday 28th, October 2025
Men (Namuwongo Blazers 80 City Oilers 70)
Women (Lady Dolphins 77 Lady Jaguars 59)
Kampala, Uganda: Super-sub Peter Obleng delivered a game-changing performance as the Namuwongo Blazers stunned City Oilers 80–70 on Tuesday night to revive their National Basketball League (NBL) Finals hopes.
Obleng came off the bench to score 20 points and grab nine rebounds, sparking the Blazers’ first win of the series and cutting the Oilers’ lead to 2–1 in the best-of-seven showdown.
After losing the opening two games, the Blazers came into Game Three with renewed urgency. The first quarter ended 24–24 after a fast, physical exchange, with Innocent Ochera leading Namuwongo’s attack while Chad Bowie kept the Oilers level.
By halftime, the Oilers edged ahead 44–42, capitalising on Blazers’ turnovers. But after the break, the Blazers regrouped, tightening their defence and moving the ball with precision.
Midway through the third quarter, Obleng sank back-to-back baskets that pushed Namuwongo eight points clear, their biggest lead of the night. Though Oilers’ Kurt Curry Wegscheider trimmed the gap to three as the quarter ended 60–57, the Blazers remained composed.
In the final period, strong defensive work by Tonny Drileba and confident ball movement sealed the Blazers’ 10-point victory, igniting celebrations among their fans inside the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Arthur Wanyoto added 18 points, while Anthony Chukwubuka Chukwurah scored 14 for the Blazers. For City Oilers, Mer Maker had 20 points, Wegscheider 18, and Bowie 17.
The win gives Namuwongo new life in the title race as they look to level the series in Game Four on Friday at the same venue.
JKL Lady Dolphins Edge Closer to Another Crown
In the Women’s Finals, defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins overpowered the JT Lady Jaguars 77–59 to take a 2–1 series lead.
The Jaguars started brightly, leading 24–18 after the first quarter. But JKL tightened their defence through Becky Keren Longom’s strong bench play and overturned the deficit to lead 36–35 at halftime.
The third quarter remained tight, ending 52–51 in JKL’s favour. However, in the fourth, the Dolphins unleashed an 8–0 run that forced Jaguars coach Sudi Ulanga into an emergency timeout — but the momentum had shifted for good.
The Jaguars managed only eight points in the final quarter as JKL pulled away comfortably.
Hope Akello led the Dolphins with 17 points, captain Flavia Oketcho added 13, while Evelyn Nakiyinji and Brenda Ekone contributed 12 and 11, respectively. For the Jaguars, Rhoda Nagitta scored 15 and Shakirah Nanvubya 13.
JKL now need just one more victory to move within touching distance of retaining their league crown.
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