Namuwongo Blazers and defending champions City Oilers have punched their tickets to the National Basketball League (NBL) semifinals, after delivering contrasting but decisive Game Two victories under the dazzling lights of Lugogo Indoor Arena on Thursday night.
The Blazers were nothing short of ruthless, torching Rezlife Saints 76-61 in a commanding display that underlined their title credentials.
They seized an early 23-18 lead in the opening quarter, stretched it to 42-35 by halftime, and never looked back.
Veteran guard Jimmy Enabu lit up the arena with a dagger three-pointer at the end of the third quarter, before the Blazers’ defensive wall suffocated the Saints, conceding just 10 points in the final stanza.
Anthony Chukwurah powered the charge with 15 points, Enabu chipped in 14, while Michael Makiadi added 11. For the Saints, Michael Otieno (17) and Christopher Omanye (13) tried to spark a miracle, but their season came crashing down in the heat of Namuwongo’s fire.
If the Blazers were blazing, the City Oilers were battling for their lives. In a nail-biting classic, the reigning champions showcased nerves of steel to edge JT Jaguars 67-65.
The Jaguars roared early, storming to a 20-16 first-quarter lead and maintaining a 37-31 cushion at halftime. But champions don’t crumble, they respond.
The Oilers clawed their way back in the third quarter and held their nerve in the dying moments to seal the win, silencing a spirited Jaguars resistance.
Kurt Wegscheider was the night’s hero with 20 points, while Mer Maker (14) and Fayed Baale chipped in vital double digits. The Jaguars fought with heart through Ian Lubwama (14) and George Agasi (10), but their late push fell agonizingly short.
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