Tusker Lite National Basketball League
Saturday Results
*Nkumba Lady Marines 53-98 JKL Lady Dolphins
*Tropical Royals 72-64 Victoria University
*Falcons 60-106 Ndejje University Angels
*Power 78-66 UPDF Tomahawks
Victoria University and Nkumba Lady Marines will not be playing top tier basketball next season after they got relegated from the Tusker Lite National Basketball League (NBL) on Saturday.
The games played at the YMCA basketball court in Wandegeya, Kampala saw Victoria University lose 72-64 to Tropical Royals whilst Nkumba lost 53-98 to women’s title holders JKL Lady Dolphins.
The results sealed the fate of the university sides who have been striving hard to stay in the men’s and women’s divisions of the NBL respectively.
Victoria University join Falcons as the other relegated men’s team whilst Nkumba is the first women’s team to face the axe after they spent a long stint in the top tier division.
The loss against Tropical Royals was Victoria University’s 16th in the regular season after 21 outings and can’t tactically survive even if they win their next three games against Nam Blazers, City Oilers and Ndejje University Angels. They’re second last on the 13-team table.
Duallo Joshua led Tropical Royals with 18 points, 20 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Maker Mayen was Victoria University’s standout player with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 2 assists.
One more team will be relegated in the men’s division bringing the total to three.
Nkumba on the other side have just one win in the entire season and are at the bottom of the 10-team women’s division table. They have just 17 points after 16 outings.
Former Nkumba player Brenda Ekone who’s currently a sports administrator at the university helped relegate her former side shooting 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Nkumba’s Shadiah Mbwali shot a game high 29 points but her individual brilliance wasn’t enough to save her side in the opening game of the day. She added 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Meanwhile, one more women’s team will be demoted to the lower division bringing the total number to two.
The Tusker Lite National Basketball League continues on Sunday at the MTN Arena, Lugogo in Kampala.
Sunday Fixtures
*Magic Stormers Vs UCU Lady Canons – 10am
*KCCA Panthers Vs Nam Blazers – 12pm
*KCCA Leopards Vs Miracle Angels – 2pm
*Falcons Vs UPDF Tomahawks – 4pm
*Power Vs KIU Titans – 6pm
