NAMUWONGO BLAZERS FORCE GAME 7 AS UCU LADY CANONS STRIKE FIRST

The 2026 National Basketball League Finals are heading towards a dramatic finish after the Namuwongo Blazers stunned City Oilers 82–64 in Game 6 at a packed Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday night. Namuwongo Blazers delivered a commanding performance in the NBL Men 2026 season, cruising past City Oilers 82-64 at the MTN Arena in a game that was effectively decided by a blistering second quarter. The Blazers led a tightly contested opening period 14-12 before turning up the intensity in the second quarter, outscoring the Oilers 31-17 to take a 45-29 advantage into halftime. From there, Namuwongo maintained control and never allowed City Oilers to mount a serious comeback. Peter Obleng was instrumental in the victory, leading all scorers with 22 points off the bench while adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Nyembo Fataki contributed 18 points and seven rebounds, Henry Ssebagala added 15 points, while Nyemeck Kevin Leonel scored 13 on an efficient 62 percent shooting. Drileba Tonny also made a significant impact without scoring, controlling the game with 11 assists and nine rebounds. The Blazers shot 43 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range, while their 16 of 20 shooting from the free-throw line further strengthened their offensive output. They also dominated the boards 33-24 and capitalized on 18 City Oilers turnovers, converting them into 13 points. For the Oilers, Jonathan Komagum was the standout performer with 18 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the field. Patrick Rembert added 14 points, although he struggled offensively, while Fayed Baale contributed 11 points from the bench. One of the biggest differences was Namuwongo depth. The Blazers’ bench produced 25 points compared to just nine from the Oilers’ reserves, giving them an important advantage as the game progressed. City Oilers’ shooting woes ultimately proved costly. They managed just 32 percent from the field and 21 percent from beyond the arc, struggling to find consistency against a disciplined Namuwongo defence. With an 18-point margin separating the sides at the final buzzer, Namuwongo Blazers walked away with a statement victory, combining efficient scoring, strong rebounding, defensive pressure and a decisive contribution from their bench to put City Oilers under sustained pressure from the second quarter onwards UCU LADY CANONS TAKE EARLY ADVANTAGE Earlier, the UCU Lady Canons opened the women’s finals with a 50–35 victory over the JT Lady Jaguars. Sylvia Nakituuka led all scorers with 15 points, while Martina Anyango posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sandra Wangeshi added 10 points for UCU. Sandra Ayikoru was JT’s only double-digit scorer, while Mercy Batamuliza dominated the boards with a game-high 19 rebounds. With the men’s championship now going down to the wire, all eyes turn to Game 7 in Hoima where the next NBL champions will be crowned.

BASKETBALL