NBL Round 20 (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 6th ranked Jaguars in Kampala 82-62. Blazers forced 19 Jaguars turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was DR Congolese forward Franck Nyembo (200-2006) who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international Ivan Muhwezi (182-1998) chipped in 16 points and 6 rebounds. Abraham Chuol produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Blazers (10-1) have an impressive ten-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Jaguars at the other side dropped to the seventh place with five games lost.
Undefeated City Oilers (9-1) recorded its first loss in Kampala. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Rezlife S. (8-2) 62-48. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of City Oilers. Edrine Ekau (-2006) orchestrated the victory by scoring 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Micheal Otieno contributed with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. International center Joel Kayira (208-2001) replied with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds for City Oilers. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Rezlife S. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 8-2 record having just three points less than leader Blazers. City Oilers at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost.
Bottom-ranked UPDF managed to get a second victory, breaking the three-game losing streak on Wednesday night. This time newly promoted UPDF won against ninth-ranked JKL Dolphins in Kampala 70-62. Worth to mention a great performance of Joel Icumar who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Kenneth Mesho responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 17 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. UPDF (2-8) moved-up to ninth place. JKL Dolphins lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the tenth position with nine games lost. They share it with UMU and Kampala R..

In the last game of round 20 UCU Canons crushed Kampala R. in Kampala 82-52.



UPDF - JKL Dolphins 70-62

Bottom-ranked UPDF managed to get a second victory, breaking the three-game losing streak on Wednesday night. This time newly promoted UPDF won against ninth-ranked JKL Dolphins in Kampala 70-62. UPDF held JKL Dolphins to an opponent 25.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 40.8 percent accuracy of the winners. UPDF looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Joel Icumar who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals and Godwin Muhamireho who added 14 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Kenneth Mesho responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 17 rebounds and guard Haron Alinaitwe scored 14 points and 5 steals. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. UPDF (2-8) moved-up to ninth place. JKL Dolphins lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the tenth position with nine games lost. They share it with UMU and Kampala R..
Top scorers:
JKL Dolphins: A.Haron 14+4reb+3ast, M.Kenneth 12+17reb+1ast, H.Sentamu 10+3reb+2ast, C.Fred 8+6reb+3ast, B.Shane 5, O.Gabriel 5+2reb+2ast
UPDF: K.Kasobya 14+4reb+4ast, G.Muhamireho 14+5reb+3ast, J.Icumar 10+8reb+8ast, M.Janvier 9+4reb, P.Akok 7+4reb+1ast, B.Kyazze 6+6reb+1ast

Kampala R. - UCU Canons 52-82

There was no surprise when 10th ranked Kampala R. (2-9) was crushed at home by eighth ranked UCU Canons (5-4) 82-52 on Wednesday. UCU Canons dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Kampala R.'s 18. UCU Canons forced 19 Kampala R. turnovers and outrebounded them 59-14 including a 18-2 advantage in offensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of Jimmy Otim (-1999) who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 4 steals and Chiedozie Raluchukwu who added 8 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. UCU Canons' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Brian Opio responded with 14 points and 5 steals and Micheal Ssekibenga scored 9 points and 4 assists. UCU Canons moved-up to sixth place. Kampala R. lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with nine games lost. They share it with UMU and JKL Dolphins.
Top scorers:
Kampala R.: O.Brian 14+4reb+2ast, K.Shafik 11+2reb+1ast, S.Micheal 9+2reb+4ast, A.Roxine 9+1reb+3ast, K.Gideon 3+3reb+2ast, J.Wacha 3+2reb+1ast
UCU Canons: J.Otim 16+4reb+2ast, M.Okurut 14+1reb, C.Raluchukwu 8+9reb+2ast, E.Zachariah 8+5reb+3ast, S.Olara 8+3reb+2ast, N.Okidi 7+2reb+1ast

Blazers - Jaguars 82-62

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Blazers as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Blazers smashed 6th ranked Jaguars in Kampala 82-62. Blazers forced 19 Jaguars turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was DR Congolese forward Franck Nyembo (200-2006) who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international Ivan Muhwezi (182-1998) chipped in 16 points and 6 rebounds. Abraham Chuol produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and center Peter Sifuma (-1996) added 8 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Blazers (10-1) have an impressive ten-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Jaguars at the other side dropped to the seventh place with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Jaguars: C.Abraham 20+10reb+3ast, S.Peter 8+9reb+4ast, A.Elijah 7+1ast, K.Abubakah 6+2reb+1ast, L.Ian 6+4reb+8ast, F.Chuma 5+2reb
Blazers: F.Nyembo 19+6reb+4ast, I.Muhwezi 16+6reb+3ast, M.Mugisha 9+8reb+3ast, P.Obleng 7+1reb+1ast, W.Blair 7+2reb, T.Drileba 6+6reb+8ast

City Oilers - Rezlife S. 48-62

Undefeated City Oilers (9-1) recorded its first loss in Kampala. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Rezlife S. (8-2) 62-48. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of City Oilers. Rezlife S. held City Oilers to an opponent 24.6 percent shooting from the field compared to 30.8 percent accuracy of the winners. Edrine Ekau (-2006) orchestrated the victory by scoring 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Micheal Otieno (193-1993) contributed with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. International center Joel Kayira (208-2001) replied with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds and Malual Dier added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for City Oilers. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Rezlife S. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 8-2 record having just three points less than leader Blazers. City Oilers at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost.
Top scorers:
City Oilers: D.Malual 10+5reb, K.Joel 10+10reb, B.Fayed 8+3reb+3ast, N.Landry 5+5reb, A.Isaac 5+3reb, K.Benjamin 3+3reb+2ast
Rezlife S.: E.Ekau 25+8reb+4ast, H.Kwany 11+5reb+5ast, M.Otieno 10+11reb+3ast, S.Fadul 7+7reb, J.Maiba 4+3reb+1ast, D.Ajang 2+1reb+1ast