Sommet Basketball Club closed out their debut first round in the National Basketball League (NBL) with an impressive 66-50 win over Livingstone on Wednesday night at the YMCA Court in Wandegeya.
The game, broadcast live on NBS Sport, was Sommet’s fifth victory of the season and elevated them to sixth place on the 12-team log with a record of 5 wins and 6 losses from 11 games.
After a tightly contested opening half in which Sommet led 28-26, the newcomers shifted gears and dominated the second half 38-24.
Their balanced offensive execution and improved defense proved too much for a Livingstone side that could not sustain pressure for long periods.
Mark Ngobi led all scorers with 20 points and added 13 rebounds for a well-earned double-double.
He was ably supported by Hon Kwany with 15 points and Richard Mutawulu with 11 rebounds, contributing to a solid team showing.
Livingstone, who end round one with just one win and 10 losses, remain second from bottom; just above KIU Titans.
Despite double-digit scoring from Derrick Otim and Isaac Athuai, their campaign has lacked cohesion and offensive bite. They’ll need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid a relegation battle in the second round.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s NBL earlier that evening, KCCA Leopards continued their dominant run by mauling Angels 74-35 to claim their seventh consecutive win and extend their lead at the top of the table after nine games.
The Leopards now boast an 8-1 record, with one game; against JKL Lady Dolphins on Saturday, left to conclude round one.
KCCA dominated and overwhelmed Angels at both ends of the court, racing to a 16-4 lead after the first quarter and stretching it to 38-10 by halftime.
The third quarter saw Angels spark briefly to life. Joan Namatovu buried three three-pointers in the frame and finished the quarter with 11 points, as her side outscored the Leopards 16-12.
KCCA struggled during that stretch; registering seven turnovers and missing five of six free throws, but remained firmly in control of the scoreboard.
The Leopards reset in the final quarter and shut down any momentum Angels had built, cruising to a 39-point win.
Tracy Namugosa led KCCA with a game-high 22 points, followed by Sherinah Mwenyango with 16 and Perus Nyamwenge with 10.
For Angels, now 8th on the table with two wins and eight losses from 10 games, Namatovu’s 15 points stood out, but the team’s lack of consistent offensive support and defensive resistance proved costly again.
With just one game left in the first round, the Leopards will aim to maintain top spot heading into the second half of the season, while Angels will be hoping to bounce back and stabilize their campaign.
