National Basketball League | Men | Friday
- JT Jaguars 61–55 UCU Canons
JT Jaguars roared back in style on Friday evening with a 61-55 win over UCU Canons in the National Basketball League, avenging their narrow first-round defeat and snapping the Canons’ three-game winning streak.
The Jaguars, who had fallen 59-54 in a seesaw earlier-season contest, came out with renewed fire and intent. This time, they were determined not to let the game slip away, producing a disciplined and tactical performance at the YMCA Court.
Daniel Muganzi set the tone for the night with a deep three-pointer that handed the Jaguars a commanding 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. But UCU, fresh off a dominant victory over KCCA Panthers, regrouped quickly.
Zachariah Ekirapa and Joel Kayira led the Canons’ response, and by halftime, they had edged ahead, 34-33, following a buzzer-beating triple from Ian Lubwama.
The third quarter was neck-and-neck, with Ekirapa slicing through the defense to give UCU a slim 47-46 advantage heading into the final period. However, the fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Jaguars.
Center Tong Obde anchored a rock-solid defensive wall, swatting away shots and denying the Canons easy access to the rim.
Offensively, Ian Lubwama and Chuma Fadhili turned up the heat, Lubwama finishing with a game-high 17 points while Fadhili chipped in 14.
UCU, in contrast, struggled to find rhythm when it mattered most, managing just eight points in the final quarter. Joel Kayira (12 points) was the only Canon to reach double figures as JT clamped down with a decisive 15-8 final-quarter run to seal the deal.
The result not only hands UCU their first loss in four games but also reignites the Jaguars’ top-tier aspirations into second place behind Namuwongo Blazers with 10 wins in 15 games as the regular season heats up.
