Rockets, Nam Blazers strike early as NBL underdogs face elimination pressure.

The UCU Canons had an uneven regular season, swinging from brilliant to baffling mediocrity with regular frequency.

No doubt where their performance in Game 1 of the National Basketball League (NBL) quarterfinals against the Kampala Rockets ranks.

Gideon Kasasa and Edgar Mugabo combined for 20 points as the Rockets edged UCU 50-49 in the cagey opener of their best-of-three series played on Saturday at Lugogo. Lwabaga Ibanda had a game-high 12 points, while Joel Kayira scored 10.

NBL Teams are clearly struggling to shake off the effects of the long AfroBasket-induced layoff, as the similarly low scores in Game 1 of the Namuwongo Blazers-Rezlife series suggest. Namuwongo won as expected, but the 54-41 scoreline was definitely on the measly side.

Innocent Ochera with 13 was Namuwongo’s sole double-digit scorer, while Rezlife’s Michael Otienno recorded a game-high 15. He was also the only Saint to reach double figures. Rezlife star Chris Omanye was held to two points, going 1-of-11 from the field.

The beauty is that the best-of-three series instantly puts one team in survival mode after the opening encounter. That tends to elevate the quality of competition as the loser of Game 1 must win or go home.

That is where UCU, Rezlife and the KCCA Panthers, who were beaten 75-64 by Sommet on Friday, are. 

National Basketball League playoffs

Best-of-three quarterfinals

Women

JKL 77 UPDF 55

JKL 79 UPDF 52

(JKL win series 2-0)

KCCA 67 Stormers 65

(KCCA lead series 1-0)

Jaguars 71 Miracle 36

(Jaguars lead series 1-0)

UCU 68 KIU 57

(UCU lead series 1-0)

Men

Namuwongo 54 Rezlife 41

(Namuwongo lead series 1-0)

Sommet 74 KCCA 64

(Sommet lead series 1-0)

Rockets 50 UCU 49

(Rockets lead series 1-0)