UPDF, Namuwongo Blazers complete NBL promotion

UPDF Tomahawks and Namuwongo Blazers will play National Basketball League next season.

The two sides earned promotion to the top flight after winning their tightly contested semifinal series over the weekend.

UPDF were the first team to seal promotion with a 67-55 victory against Nkumba Marines in game three of their series.

The army side had won the first game but Nkumba leveled the series on Saturday to force a decider.

Nkumba led 36-34 at halftime but UPDF turned things round in the second half with Opiyo, Felix Mukunzi and Moses Muhumuza scoring 21, 18 and 15 points respectively.

Nkumba’s Sydney Chasimba scored 15 points but they were not enough for Timothy Odeke’s charges to win and return to top flight basketball.

In the other semifinal, Namuwongo Blazers had to dig deep for their promotion.

After going down to Old Tymers in game one, the elimination monster was staring at the Namuwongo side going into game two on Saturday.

The series were leveled on Saturday and a decider was required to separate the two sides.

The Blazers started well and led 19-12 after the first quarter but Old Tymers ran riot in the second, scoring 22 and limiting Blazers to 12 to lead 34-32 at the half.

The tight contest ended with Blazers winning by a single point to take the series 2-1 and progress to the division one finals and top flight basketball.

The finals will now see UPDF and Blazers facing off to decide the champion of the division.

In the ladies’ category, Nabisunsa and Magic Stormers sailed through their series to advance to the finals and the top flight.

Nabisunsa defeated Miracle Eaglets 71-67 on Saturday to complete a 2-0 sweep.

Magic Stormers swept Javon Lady Phenoms with a tight 66-65 win to close out the series.

In division two, Kampala Rockets and Entebbe Archers confirmed their place in next season’s division one after progressing to the final.

Rockets overcame Duhaga while Archers progressed at the expense of Emperors.