NBL Round 19 (Regular Season): Blazers keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Blazers as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Blazers smashed 5th ranked Sommet in Kampala 82-41. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Sommet. Blazers held Sommet to an opponent 23.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 52.2 percent accuracy of the winners. Blazers forced 23 Sommet turnovers and had a 30-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a great evening for Nigerian forward Anthony Chukwubuka (202-1994) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Power forward Moses Mugisha (-1984) helped adding 13 points and 6 rebounds. At the losing side forward Joseph Chuma (-1991) responded with 8 points and 9 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Blazers (9-1) have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Sommet at the other side keeps the fifth place with five games lost.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Kampala: KCCA P. (#5) and Victoria Crocs (#6). KCCA P. (6-4) won against visiting Victoria Crocs (5-5) 83-79. It was an exceptional evening for Stanley Mugerwa who led the winners and scored 9 points and 17 rebounds. Diopa Lukusa accounted for 19 points and 7 rebounds. KCCA P.'s coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Chuol Nyuot came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for Victoria Crocs in the defeat. The victory was the third consecutive win for KCCA P.. They moved-up to fourth place. Victoria Crocs lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with five games lost.
Another exciting game was again a derby between two local teams from Kampala: Jaguars (#8) and UCU Canons (#7). UCU Canons were defeated at home 53-60 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Peter Sifuma fired a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Jaguars' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marvin Okurut produced 16 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. Jaguars (5-4) moved-up to sixth place. Loser UCU Canons dropped to the eighth position with four games lost.

In the last two games of round 19 Blazers won against Kampala R. on the opponent's court 88-75. Rezlife S. outscored JKL Dolphins in a home game 83-59.



Kampala R. - Blazers 75-88

Very expected game when 10th ranked Kampala R. (2-8) was defeated at home by second ranked Blazers (9-1) 88-75 on Wednesday. Blazers dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Kampala R.'s 30. They outrebounded Kampala R. 54-32 including a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Blazers looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. DR Congolese forward Franck Nyembo (200-2006) fired 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. The former international Tonny Drileba (183-1993) chipped in 5 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Blazers' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Gideon Kasasa (-1998) produced 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and Francis Kasinde added 17 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four Kampala R. players scored in double figures. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Blazers. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Kampala R. lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the ninth place with eight games lost. They share the position with UMU and JKL Dolphins.
Top scorers:
Kampala R.: K.Gideon 22+8reb+4ast, K.Francis 17+6reb, K.Shafik 11+4reb+4ast, O.Brian 11+7reb+5ast, A.Roxine 9+2reb+4ast, M.Edward 5+5reb+1ast
Blazers: F.Nyembo 18+7reb+2ast, O.Innocent 17+2reb, P.Obleng 13+3reb, J.Okello 10+5reb+1ast, J.Enabu 6+3reb+3ast, A.Wanyoto 6+9reb+4ast

Rezlife S. - JKL Dolphins 83-59

Very predictable result in Kampala where third ranked Rezlife S. (7-2) smashed 9th ranked JKL Dolphins (2-8) 83-59 on Wednesday. Rezlife S. forced 23 JKL Dolphins turnovers and outrebounded them 42-26 including a 29-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rezlife S. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Edrine Ekau (-2006) fired 24 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Hon Kwany chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds. Kenneth Mesho produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and Sentamu Hasan added 14 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rezlife S. maintains third place with 7-2 record having just three points less than leader Blazers. JKL Dolphins lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with eight games lost. They share it with UMU and Kampala R..
Top scorers:
JKL Dolphins: H.Sentamu 14+1reb+4ast, M.Kenneth 13+10reb, C.Fred 11+2reb+1ast, O.Jonathan 9+3reb+1ast, A.Haron 4+3reb+3ast, S.Geoffrey 3+3reb
Rezlife S.: E.Ekau 24+5reb+1ast, H.Kwany 11+8reb+3ast, D.Ajang 11+1reb+1ast, K.Azariah 8+5reb+2ast, E.Ssentongo 7+4reb+3ast, K.Moru 6+3reb+2ast

KCCA P. - Victoria Crocs 83-79

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Kampala: KCCA P. (#5) and Victoria Crocs (#6). KCCA P. (6-4) won against visiting Victoria Crocs (5-5) 83-79. KCCA P. made 17-of-20 charity shots (85.0 percent) during the game. KCCA P. outrebounded Victoria Crocs 45-31 including a 34-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was an exceptional evening for Stanley Mugerwa who led the winners and scored 9 points and 17 rebounds. Diopa Lukusa accounted for 19 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. KCCA P.'s coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Chuol Nyuot came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and Mark Ngobi added 19 points respectively for Victoria Crocs in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the third consecutive win for KCCA P.. They moved-up to fourth place. Victoria Crocs lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Victoria Crocs: E.Aaron 21+2reb, N.Chuol 20+10reb+1ast, N.Mark 19+4reb+3ast, A.Cedric 11+9reb+3ast, W.Cyrus 5+4reb+4ast, M.Bienfait 3+1reb
KCCA P.: D.Lukusa 19+7reb+1ast, O.Waleed 15+3reb, C.Kizito 12+4reb+4ast, G.Mahamba 11+6reb+3ast, S.Mugerwa 9+17reb+2ast, E.Odongkara 8+3reb+1ast

UCU Canons - Jaguars 53-60

Another exciting game was again a derby between two local teams from Kampala: Jaguars (#8) and UCU Canons (#7). UCU Canons were defeated at home 53-60 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Jaguars forced 22 UCU Canons turnovers. Center Peter Sifuma (-1996) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Ian Lubwama chipped in 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Jaguars' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marvin Okurut produced 16 points and 5 rebounds and Jimmy Lihumi added 7 points and 12 rebounds respectively for lost side. Jaguars (5-4) moved-up to sixth place. Loser UCU Canons dropped to the eighth position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
UCU Canons: O.Marvin 16+5reb+1ast, J.Alier 10+7reb, D.Flore 10+4reb+2ast, L.Jimmy 7+12reb+1ast, O.Jimmy 4+4reb+4ast, Z.Ekirapa 3+3reb
Jaguars: P.Sifuma 17+11reb+4ast, G.Odeke 13+2ast, I.Lubwama 11+6reb+5ast, A.Chuol 7+5reb+1ast, C.Fadhili 5+12reb+1ast, T.Obde 3+3reb

Blazers - Sommet 82-41

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Blazers as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Blazers smashed 5th ranked Sommet in Kampala 82-41. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Sommet. Blazers held Sommet to an opponent 23.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 52.2 percent accuracy of the winners. Blazers forced 23 Sommet turnovers and had a 30-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a great evening for Nigerian forward Anthony Chukwubuka (202-1994) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Power forward Moses Mugisha (-1984) helped adding 13 points and 6 rebounds. Four Blazers players scored in double figures. At the losing side forward Joseph Chuma (-1991) responded with 8 points and 9 rebounds and Mali Diaw Karabana (-2003) scored 7 points and 9 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Blazers (9-1) have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Sommet at the other side keeps the fifth place with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Sommet: C.Joseph 8+9reb, K.Diaw 7+9reb, M.Mark 7, T.John 6+3reb+1ast, C.Peter 6+9reb, E.Abolaji 5+1reb
Blazers: A.Chukwubuka 16+6reb+2ast, P.Obleng 14+3reb, F.Nyembo 14+1reb+1ast, M.Mugisha 13+6reb, H.Ssebagala 7+1reb+1ast, A.Wanyoto 4+6reb+2ast