National Basketball League | Men | Friday April 10
- Namuwongo Blazers 82-62 JT Jaguars
Choul Dut’s double-double effort was not enough as JT Jaguars fell 82-62 to Namuwongo Blazers, who closed their first-round campaign in style at Lugogo on Friday night.
For long spells, the Jaguars competed well. Dut anchored their effort, especially in a close first half, but the game slipped away after the break as the Blazers tightened up defensively and took control.
The Jaguars started brighter, pushing in transition to lead 15-11 and force an early timeout. Their mix of 3-2 and 2-3 zone defense slowed the Blazers briefly, but Namuwongo responded from deep.
Six three-pointers, capped by Moses Mugisha’s buzzer beater, gave them a narrow 20-19 lead after the first quarter.
Namuwongo raised their defensive intensity in the second period, switching between a 3-2 zone and a pressing 1-2-2 to force turnovers.
The Jaguars, led by Abraham Chuol and George Odeke, fought back to cut the deficit to 33-31. But the Blazers steadied themselves late to take a 39-35 lead into halftime.
The turning point came in the third quarter. Namuwongo pushed higher in their zone and trapped on the wings, forcing mistakes and easy points. The lead quickly grew to double digits, and by the end of the period, the Blazers were in full control at 67-45.
The final quarter was routine as Namuwongo managed the game to seal the win and improve to 10-1.
Fataki Nyembo led the Blazers with 19 points, while Ivan Muhwezi added 16 in a balanced team display that saw every player score.
Chuol finished with a game-high 20 points for the Jaguars, while Dut’s double-double was a rare bright spot.
The Jaguars (5-5) return to Lugogo on Sunday to face Rezlife Saints in their final first-round game.
