2026 National Basketball League | Men | Sunday February 8,
- UPDF Tomahawks 63-83 RezLife Saints
Edrine Ekau could not have picked a better night to announce himself in the National Basketball League.
On Sunday at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, the debutant played with calm assurance, guiding Rezlife Saints to a commanding 83–63 win over UPDF Tomahawks.
Ekau looked anything but new to the stage. From the tip off, he handled UPDF’s physical defense with maturity, keeping the Saints steady as they settled into the game.
The opening minutes were untidy, with missed chances at both ends. Ekau missed a couple of reverse layups, while UPDF’s Peter Akok struggled with ball control and turned the ball over repeatedly.
Rezlife briefly trailed midway through the first quarter but stayed patient. Michael Otieno’s driving layup late in the period shifted the momentum, and the Saints closed the quarter ahead 18–14.
The second quarter told a clearer story. Matching UPDF’s intensity, Rezlife began to find their flow with Ekau at the center of it all.
He rebounded, created for others and scored when needed, helping the Saints take the quarter 26–21 and build a solid halftime lead.
UPDF tried to respond after the break, leaning on their defense in search of a way back. Ekau had other ideas.
He controlled the tempo, punished gaps in the defense and kept Rezlife in charge as they edged the third quarter 20–17.
By the final period, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Saints finished strongly, outscoring the Tomahawks 19–11 to complete a comfortable 20-point victory of 83-63.
Ekau ended his debut with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead Moses Okwera’s Rezlife Saints, while Otieno added 16 points.
For Mandy Baker Kyambadde’s UPDF side, Kevin Kasobya scored 18 points, with Akok the only other player in double figures on 12.
Elsewhere, UCU Canons handed newcomers UMU Flames a 79–64 defeat in the other men’s game played at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
