Under the glowing lights of Lugogo Indoor Arena, Victoria Crocs dug deep to claim a dramatic 74-66 overtime triumph over a persistent JT Jaguars side in a gripping National Basketball League encounter.
The battle was evenly matched from the onset, with both teams refusing to blink in regulation time, resulting in a tense 63-63 deadlock that demanded an additional quarter to decide the victor.
JT Jaguars opened the night with a spark, as Chuma Fadhili buried a clutch three-pointer at the horn to give his side a slim 17-15 lead after the opening stretch.
However, Victoria Crocs responded with renewed fire in the second period. Roland Muwanguzi’s explosive drive to the hoop ignited a strong push that saw them storm into a 33-24 halftime cushion.
The third quarter brought a twist, as Jaguars clawed their way back into contention. Ivan Otyek’s calm presence at the stripe kept the scoreboard ticking, and the two squads found themselves locked at 51-all heading into the final ten minutes.
In the closing seconds of the fourth frame, David Mayom rose to the occasion, knocking down two nerveless free throws to level matters and keep Crocs’ hopes alive.
Once into overtime, the tide turned decisively. The Crocs’ backline stood firm, suffocating the Jaguars’ offense, while their own attack found just enough rhythm to pull away, outscoring their rivals 11-3 in the extra stretch.
Victoria’s engine was powered by standout efforts from Chuol Nyuot and David Mayom. Nyuot delivered 16 points with 14 rebounds, while Mayom backed him up with 15 points and 13 boards, both producing vital double-double contributions.
On the opposite side, Peter Sifuma stood tall for JT Jaguars with a commanding individual outing, registering a game-best 19 points and hauling in an eye-catching 26 rebounds, a herculean shift in defeat.
The win lifts Victoria Crocs to a 9-8 tally, slotting them into fifth place on the NBL chart with 26 points from 17 appearances. With the postseason race tightening, the Crocs have positioned themselves as a team to watch in the sprint to the finish.
