Tusker Lite NBL playoffs
Finals, Game 7
JKL Lady Dolphins 67-75 UCU Lady Canons
Nam Blazers 64-66 City Oilers
Uganda Christian University (UCU) on Friday evening hoisted the women’s Tusker Lite National Basketball League (NBL) after overpowering two-time champions and the then holders JKL Lady Dolphins in a game played at the MTN Arena, Lugogo in Kampala.
UCU Lady Canons now have eight women’s top tier division titles at their grasp having also won the championship in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and now in 2022.
UCU Lady Canons charged against JKL Lady Dolphins so hard right from the beginning and posted a 00-08 lead in the early minutes of the first quarter. They would later win the opening quarter 06-18.
With the clock reading 8:10 in the second quarter, UCU Lady Canons were already 06-25 up as JKL Lady Dolphins struggled to control the university side. However, at the end of the second quarter, the latter tried to play catch-up but the girls in blue posted a 20-point lead halfway the game with the scoreline reading 24-44.
At the end of the third quarter, the scoreline read 46-62 in favor of UCU Lady Canons and they were surely destined for glory. They finally sealed a 67-75 victory and made JKL Lady Dolphins work so hard to bridge the gap to eight points at the end of the game.
Rose Akon was the UCU Lady Canons hero on Friday evening as she shot 22 points, 29 rebounds and 2 assists. She was named the women’s finals MVP as she always put up a good shift throughout the finals.
Millicent Otieno had 25 points and 1 rebound whilst Agatha Kamwada posted 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
For JKL Lady Dolphins, Hope Akello was the standout player shooting 19 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist. Ritah Immanishimwe had 19 points and 3 assists whilst Flavia Oketcho managed 10 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds.
UCU Lady Canons who came from 3-1 down in the series got a cash prize of UGX5M from league sponsors Tusker Lite. JKL Lady Dolphins were consoled with UGX2.5M.
Meanwhile, in the men’s division, it was a heart break for new comers Nam Blazers after they lost 64-66 to City Oilers with the latter winning their eighth straight title.
