The National Basketball League serves up an action-packed Good Friday with five fixtures lined up today, Friday, April 3, at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, three of which will be broadcast live as the first round nears its climax.
The day tips off at 1pm with KCCA Panthers facing UMU Flames in a men’s contest. KCCA have endured an mixed campaign, winning five and losing four of their opening nine games to sit fifth on the 12-team log.
In contrast, UMU Flames have struggled in their debut top-flight season, managing just two wins in nine outings and remain rooted at the bottom of the table.
Attention then shifts to the women’s marquee clash at 3pm as record eight-time champions UCU Lady Canons take on defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins.
Both sides have been in formidable form, each losing only once this season. UCU boast an impressive nine wins from ten games, while JKL have secured eight victories in nine, setting up a high-stakes encounter between the league’s top contenders.
The evening session begins with the first of three live broadcasts at 5pm, as 10-time champions City Oilers face Victoria Crocs live on NBS Sport 2, exclusively on AfroMobile.
The Oilers remain the only unbeaten side across both the men’s and women’s leagues, having won all seven of their games so far.
They come into the clash on the back of victories over JKL Dolphins, JT Jaguars and UMU Flames. Victoria Crocs, who sit mid-table with five wins and four losses, will be eager to bounce back from a narrow 83-79 defeat to KCCA Panthers in their last outing.
At 7pm, UCU Canons take on JT Jaguars in a game that will be broadcast Live on NBS Sport. Both teams share identical records of four wins and four losses and are desperate to return to winning ways.
UCU fell 73-61 to Rezlife Saints in their last outing, while the Jaguars suffered a 66-48 defeat to City Oilers, adding further intrigue to an evenly poised matchup, as both teams will be aiming to bounce back.
The day concludes with a blockbuster clash at 9pm as defending champions Namuwongo Blazers face Sommet BC, also live on NBS Sport.
The Blazers have been in scintillating form since their opening-day loss to City Oilers, stringing together eight consecutive wins to climb to the top of the standings.
Their recent victories include a dominant 106-68 win over UPDF Tomahawks and a hard-fought 88-75 triumph against Kampala Rockets.
Sommet BC on the other hand, currently second on the table with six wins from ten games, arrive with momentum of their own following a convincing 90-62 win over Kampala Rockets.
The fixture carries added narrative with Nyembo Fataki Franck, Blazers’ only signing this season, set to face his former side.
The forward has made an immediate impact so far, contributing 73 points, 45 rebounds and eight assists, having previously played a key role in Sommet’s run to last season’s semi-finals, where they narrowly lost 3-2 to City Oilers.
After today’s games, the league heads into its final match week of the first round, with fixtures scheduled for next Wednesday and Friday before the round concludes on Sunday, April 12.
