Namuwongo Blazers reaffirmed their dominance of Ugandan basketball on Saturday, overcoming City Oilers 81-74 in a gripping overtime Game 7 at a packed Hoima Arena to successfully defend their National Basketball League (NBL) title.
The Blazers completed their championship defence in dramatic fashion after recovering from a 3-2 series deficit to force the decisive contest, then holding their nerve when the stakes were at their highest.
The winner-take-all finale was fiercely contested from the opening tip, with neither side able to establish a commanding advantage through the regulation period.
The tension reached its peak in the closing seconds when City Oilers forward Landry Ndikumana calmly converted his free throws to level the score and force overtime.
Extra time, however, belonged to Namuwongo.
The champions tightened their defensive structure, denied the Oilers clean entry passes into the key and forced them into difficult, low-percentage attempts.
At the opposite end, Namuwongo remained composed in possession and converted their opportunities to pull away decisively before the final buzzer.
Fataki Nyembo once again proved the difference-maker, producing a championship-clinching performance of the highest order.
The Playoffs Most Valuable Player finished with a game-high 35 points, capping an outstanding postseason campaign and carrying Namuwongo’s offence when it mattered most.
Jimmy Enabu and Anthony Chukwurah added 12 points apiece, providing crucial offensive support during a contest in which every possession carried enormous weight.
City Oilers were led by Patrick Rembert, who finished with 27 points, while Fayed Bbaale contributed 14 and Ndikumana 10. Despite their spirited challenge, the Oilers could not find a response to Namuwongo’s defensive stranglehold in overtime.
The victory hands Namuwongo Blazers back-to-back NBL championships and further strengthens their claim as the dominant force in Ugandan basketball’s current era.
