Basketball lovers are in for a thrilling Friday night as the National Basketball League (NBL) dishes out a live double-header at YMCA Wandegeya, broadcast on NBS Sport.
The women’s clash between KIU Rangers and Nabisunsa tips off at 7:00 PM, followed by a heavyweight men’s duel between City Oilers and UCU Canons at 9:00 PM.
In the opening game, the KIU Rangers will take to the court severely depleted, with four key players unavailable due to netball duties at the East Africa Championship in Zanzibar.
Starting point guard Namulema Fildauce, along with Nanyonga Florence, Racheal Nanyonga, and Nanfuka Stella, will all miss the game, leaving the Rangers in a vulnerable position.
Last weekend, KIU’s squad depth was brutally tested in a 72-63 loss to the Magic Stormers.
The Rangers fielded only six players and finished the game with five after Patience Karungi had to leave at halftime to sit an academic exam.
The team, currently 9th on the log with 11 points from seven games, will be desperate to bounce back and notch their fifth win of the season, but must manage minutes wisely and avoid foul trouble to stand a chance.
Nabisunsa, meanwhile, sits 10th and is just one point behind KIU after eight games.
With leading scorer Mpoza Abigail averaging over 20 points per game and the dependable Auma Joy providing support, they see tonight as a golden opportunity to leapfrog the Rangers and revive their own campaign with a third win.
The night’s second feature promises fireworks as defending champions City Oilers take on UCU Canons in a clash that could shake up the playoff race.
Both teams have underwhelmed so far this season. The Oilers enter the game with a 5-5 record after a disappointing 53-50 loss to the Kampala Rockets.
In that outing, the usually high-flying Oilers struggled mightily on offence, shooting just 5-of-32 from three-point range. Edgar Munaaba was the only player in double digits, scoring 16 points.
Still without injured forward Titus Lual, the Oilers know they must quickly regain their rhythm if they are to mount a serious title defence.
The Canons, who hold a slightly better 5-4 record and have a game in hand over the Oilers, are also coming off a loss; this time to the Nam Blazers.
A win tonight would see them leapfrog the Oilers in the standings and potentially close the first round in the top half.
With both games airing live on NBS Sport, basketball fans are guaranteed back-to-back drama, intensity, and storylines that could shape the second half of the season.
