The FISU University 3×3 World Cup tipped off on Friday, November 15th in Brasília, Brazil, and Uganda Christian University (UCU) quickly made their presence felt.
On Saturday, the UCU Women delivered two spirited performances that secured a historic place in the quarter finals, the first in the university’s history.
UCU opened their campaign in style, beating the University of Seville 19–11 in a game they controlled from start to finish.
They pressed hard on defence, moved the ball with purpose, and looked sharp throughout.
Their only frustration was falling just short of the 21-point target despite clear dominance.
Their second game demanded far more nerve. UCU edged the University of Chile 17–15 in a tense, back and forth battle that came alive in the final minute.
With the game tied at 13–13, Sylvia Nantongo hit one of two free throws to put UCU ahead, but a technical foul allowed Chile to equalize moments later.
Chile then nudged ahead with a quick layup, but UCU refused to panic.
Shillah Lamunu stepped up with a clutch two pointer off the glass to swing the lead back to Uganda. A big defensive stop sealed the win and sent the UCU bench into celebration.
Tracy Namugosa led the way with 7 points, Lamunu added 6, while Nantongo and Anyango chipped in 2 each.
Beyond the drama, the victory carried historic weight. It marked UCU’s first ever qualification for the quarter-finals and the first time they have won two games at the tournament.
Their rapid growth reflects the experience they’ve gained from consistent participation in international 3×3 events.
Next up is another Spanish opponent, the University of Valencia and UCU head into that matchup brimming with belief.
If their momentum holds, they could push for even greater history: becoming the first African team to win the FISU 3×3 World Cup.
The men’s team, however, endured a tougher outing.
They lost 17–15 to Huaqiao University (China) and 19–15 to the University of Puerto Rico in the group stage, before bowing out in the playoffs with a 16–12 loss to the University of Melbourne.
