By Morris Rawal
Results
Sunday, September 4
KCCA Leopards 68-40 Angels
UCU Lady Canons 70-43 Magic Stormers
UPDF Tomahawks 64-65 City Oilers
JKL Dolphins 29-81 UCU Canons
Playoffs Semifinals
Men
Nam Blazers Vs KIU Titans
UCU Canons Vs City Oilers
Women
JKL Lady Dolphins Vs KCCA Leopards
UCU Lady Canons Vs KIU Rangers
City Oilers and UCU Canons advanced to the semifinals of the National Basketball League playoffs on Sunday after bagging hard-fought respective wins in the quarterfinals.
UPDF was defeated by City Oilers and UCU Canons easily defeated JKL Dolphins.
The Oilers defeated UPDF in a contentious game two that was made famous by the dismissal of the latter’s coach Mande Juruni late in the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, there was a protracted halt as a result of Wilberforce Pirwoth being incorrectly called for charging Oilers’ Francis Azolibe.
Raucous UPDF officials and supporters then sprung with wild protests.
James Okello of the Oilers wasted no time laying up at the buzzer to gift the Oilers an all important win
UPDF challenged the legitimacy of Okello’s game-winning layup, claiming that it was made after the clock had already run out, but video replays proved otherwise
Arthur Wanyoto recorded a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Ben Komakech led the Oilers with 17 points.
Meanwhile, JKL Dolphins failed to score a single basket in the second quarter, and UCU easily defeated them to win 81-29
Fadhil Chuma scored the most, contributing 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Jerry Kayanga and Peter Sifuma both contributed 26 points.
The other Semifinal will feature the Nam Blazers and KIU Titans, who both defeated the KCCA Panthers and Power.
On Friday, these semifinal matches will begin with JKL Ladies vs. KCCA for women and Nam Blazers vs. KIU Titans for Men.
On Sunday, UCU will take on KIU Rangers, and KCCA will square off against JKL.
The best-of-five format is used for these semifinal matches.