National Basketball League
- City Oilers 80-81 Nam Blazers
- JKL Lady Dolphins 71-75 JT Lady Jaguars
The 2025 National Basketball League tipped off in spectacular fashion as Namuwongo Blazers narrowly defeated defending champions City Oilers 81-80 in a tense and entertaining opener at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Friday night.
Despite missing key players Titus Lual, Fayed Bbaale, and Ivan Muhwezi, the City Oilers put up a formidable fight nearly securing victory.
However, a last-second free throw from Mugisha sealed a dramatic win for the Blazers, marking a tough start for the reigning champions.
The game began with City Oilers asserting early dominance closing the first quarter with a 17-10 lead.
However, Nam Blazers adjusted their strategy, implementing a full-court press and man-to-man defence that limited the Oilers to just 17 points in the second quarter. At halftime, the Blazers had closed the gap, trailing by just five points (34-29).
The intensity escalated in the third quarter, with both teams exchanging leads. Allawi Ssenkubuge delivered a crucial buzzer-beating block denying Innocent Ochera a potential game-changing three-pointer. By the end of the quarter, City Oilers clung to a narrow 55-54 advantage.
The final quarter was a rollercoaster, filled with dramatic moments, including Joseph Chuma fouling out with eight minutes remaining. The game reached a deadlock at 80-80 with just eight seconds left, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
With one second on the clock, Mugisha stepped up to the line and calmly sank the decisive free throw, handing Nam Blazers a hard-fought 81-80 victory.
Key Performers
For City Oilers, Ben Komakech (18 points), Edgar Munaaba (12 points), and Joseph Chuma (10 points) led the charge while the Blazers saw Jimmy Enabu (19 points) and Peter Obleng (11 points) as their standout scorers.
Despite the loss, City Oilers dominated in rebounding and showcased their trademark resilience. Komakech acknowledged the team’s solid performance, stating,
“We led the whole game. Even in the last second, we were up until that call. We had too many turnovers, but our bench stepped up, and our young players, especially Benjamin, played really well.”
After the win, Blazers’ player Tonny Drilleba acknowledged the tough battle ahead emphasizing the need for better chemistry and a stronger mindset moving forward.
“They (City Oilers) played like 10-time champions. We just managed to grind out the win, but we need to check ourselves. We’re still the underdogs, and if we want to compete for the championship, we have a lot of work to do.”
With seven new players on their roster, the Blazers will need time to develop team cohesion however, this hard-fought victory could serve as a crucial stepping stone as they build towards their championship aspirations.
For the City Oilers, this loss echoes past seasons, where they often start slow but finish strong. Their focus will be on reducing turnovers and improving free throws to bounce back in their next fixture.
In the earlier Women’s games, JT Lady Jaguars too edged an experienced JKL Dolphins side 75-71 to avenge last season’s losses.
National Basketball League action will continue tomorrow at YMCA in Wandegeya with the following games;
Women
- Angels Vs UPDF Lady Tomahawks – 10AM
- Nabisunsa Vs Miracle Ravens – 12PM
- Nkumba Lady Marines Vs KCCA Leopards – 2PM
Men
- Victoria Crocs Vs Kampala Rockets – 4PM
- Rezlife Saints Vs KCCA Pathners – 6PM
