NBL Playoffs Matchups Confirmed

August 14, 2022
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NBL Quarterfinals
•Nam Blazers Vs KCCA Panthers
•UCU Canons Vs JKL Dolphins
•City Oilers Vs UPDF Tomahawks
•KIU Titans Vs Power

The regular season of the Tusker-Lite sponsored National Basketball League concluded on Sunday with two fixtures in the Men’s division at Lugogo.

KCCA Panthers squeezed themselves into the playoffs with a stunning 88-63 victory over UPDF Tomahawks.

Emmanuel Odongkara scored 14 points, Martin Buluma added 13 while Nyong Akok contributed a double double of 11 points and as many rebounds for Brian Wathum’s Panthers.

In the other game, UCU Canons beat Ndejje University Angels 89-76 despite missing coach Nicholas Natuhereza who is with National 3*3 Basketball teams at the Islamic Games in Konya, Turkey.

Fayed Baale weighed in with 25 points while Peter Sifuma added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Canons to render Samuel Ajak’s game high 32 points effortless.

The win ensured that UCU move level with Nam Blazers and City Oilers on wins and losses record; 14-4.

And to determine who tops the table and goes into the playoffs as the number one ranked team, the three-team tie breaker rule was used (record when the three teams met) to determine classification.

Nam Blazers beat Oilers in both games of the regular season and also beat UCU in one of the two games and lost the other – Meaning Blazers have a 3-1 record.

UCU Canons split their meetings between Nam Blazers and Oilers – Won two and lost two, hence a 2-2 record.

Oilers lost both Nam Blazers meetings, won once and lost the other against UCU – Meaning they have a 1-3 record.

Meaning, Nam Blazers are the top ranked team followed by UCU and Oilers in that order.

KIU Titans finish in fourth just above Power while UPDF, JKL and KCCA are the other teams to complete the required eight in that order.

Newcomer Our Saviour and Ndejje University Angels miss out on the playoffs and will wait for next season to return to action while Tropical Royals, Victoria University and Falcons were relegated.

Easy to write off Power after a contentious regular season.

The Playoffs are expected to start on Friday, August 14.

The Quarterfinals:

The playoffs match up are in the format 1 Vs 8, 2 Vs 7, 3 Vs 6 and 4 Vs 5.

Meaning; Nam Blazers (1- best ranked team) will meet KCCA Panthers (8 – lowest ranked team).

UCU Canons meet JKL Dolphins in a Mukono derby, City Oilers face off with UPDF while KIU Titans and Power is the pick of the round.

It’s strong to note that for the KIU Vs Power matchup, each team won one game in the regular season when the two sides met.

For the other three ties, the top three teams won beat their Quarterfinals opponents in both meetings.

The Quarterfinals will be played as Best of Three (awaiting FUBA confirmation) – The first team to win two games progress.

KIU Titans and UPDF in regular season action. FUBA photos

Who is meeting who in the semis?

If Nam Blazers beat KCCA Panthers, they will meet winner between KIU Titans and Power at the semis.

The other semis will be between winner from UCU and JKL matchup facing off with the winner between Oilers and UPDF.

The Semis will be played as Best of Five (awaiting FUBA confirmation) – The first team to win three games advance to the final which will be played on Best of Seven.

There will not be a repeat of Oilers-UCU final

Women NBL

Two teams (Nkumba Lady Marines and A1 Challenge) were relegated to Women’s Division One.

The remaining eight automatically qualify for the Playoffs.

But there is still a pending fixture between KIU Rangers and KCCA Leopards. It was supposed to be played on Sunday but postponed as the former’s coach Ali Mavita is with Junior Gazelles (Madagascar).

KIU are third while KCCA are fourth, both tied on 13-4 record. A win for either side will see her move to 14 wins, knotting them level with UCU who still has a better head-to-head against both of them.