By 
Namuwongo Blazers have beaten City Oilers once again to retain the Uganda National Basketball League (NBL) championship, completing a thrilling 4–3 series victory with an 81–74 overtime win in Game Seven at Hoima City Stadium.
The Blazers entered the decisive game knowing they had history on the line. After defeating the Oilers in last year’s championship, Namuwongo were determined to prove that their previous title was no fluke.
City Oilers, meanwhile, were looking to reclaim the championship and restore the dominance that saw them win 10 consecutive NBL titles.
The Oilers made the better start, taking a 16–12 lead at the end of the opening quarter. But Namuwongo refused to surrender, gradually working their way back into the contest as the two sides traded baskets in a tense battle.
The game went down to the final seconds of regulation. With the score tied at 66–66, City Oilers forced overtime after Landry Ndikumana calmly converted two free throws.
That, however, was as close as the Oilers would get.
Namuwongo took complete control in overtime, outscoring City Oilers 15–8 to finally put the championship beyond doubt and send their supporters into celebration.
Nyembo Fataki was the hero of the night for the defending champions. He produced a spectacular 35-point performance, shooting 13-for-21 from the field and repeatedly keeping Namuwongo in the contest when the pressure was at its highest.
His performance earned him MVP chants from the crowd as the Blazers moved closer to another championship.
Jimmy Enabu and Anthony Chuckwurah also contributed 12 points apiece, while the team collectively made a major impact on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 55–48.
For City Oilers, Patrick Rembert led the way with 27 points. Fayed Bbaale added 14, while Ndikumana finished with 10.
The Oilers’ defeat was particularly painful given their determination to regain the championship. Their playoff recruitment of Rembert, Germaine Roebuck and Jonathan Komagum was part of an effort to strengthen the squad and end Namuwongo’s reign.
Instead, the Blazers have now beaten the Oilers in the championship race for a second consecutive year.
The final also came after controversy surrounding City Oilers’ use of more than four foreign-based players. Namuwongo had petitioned the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) before Game Six, with the matter subsequently referred to the National Council of Sports.
But on the court, it was Namuwongo who had the final say.
The victory gives the Blazers their second consecutive NBL championship and further establishes them as the new force in Ugandan basketball.
For City Oilers, the defeat marks another setback after a decade of unprecedented dominance. The 10-time champions have now gone two seasons without the league crown.
Namuwongo will now have another opportunity to carry Uganda’s flag on the continental stage, with the champions set to target another appearance in the Basketball Africa League.
