Namuwongo Blazers have booked a place in the East Division Elite 16 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers for a second successive season after winning their first three Group D games at Hoima City Arena.
The Blazers secured qualification with an 85-81 overtime victory over South Sudan’s Patriots Basketball Club on Saturday, making it three wins from three in the five-team, round-robin qualifier.
The result also gave new Spanish coach Luis Lopez Hernandez room to experiment with his roster in Sunday’s final group game against Burundi’s Urunani, who had also qualified after winning their opening three matches.
‘We are very happy to have won such a tough game. People enjoyed it because it went to overtime,’ Lopez said. ‘We have created a very good group. We are a family now and everyone is happy that we have qualified for the Elite 16.’
Blazers start in control
Namuwongo had opened their campaign with emphatic victories, beating Comoros’ Ushindzi 109-45 before brushing aside Madagascar’s COSPN 99-56.
Lopez has largely relied on a foreign-based starting unit comprising Jonathan Jordan, Richaud Pack, Fataki Nyembo, Makhtar Gueye and Peter Olisemeka. The quintet started each quarter in the two comfortable wins, averaging 21 and 15 minutes respectively across the opening games.
But Patriots offered a sterner test, rallying in the second half to push the Ugandans into overtime.
Patriots force extra time
Namuwongo appeared in control when a Fataki Nyembo lay-up early in the third quarter stretched their lead to 49-32.
Patriots responded by winning the third quarter 26-15 before an 8-0 run late in the fourth forced overtime.
Lopez attributed the fightback to fatigue, missed opportunities and Patriots’ improved perimeter shooting and transition play.
‘This is basketball; anything can happen at any time. We were tired, we missed open shots and free throws at crucial moments, and they scored lots of three-pointers in the second half,’ he said. ‘They also ran the fast break very well in the third quarter and we couldn’t stop them.’
Jordan leads the charge
Backed by vocal support from the Hoima crowd, the Blazers held their nerve in overtime, with five players finishing in double figures.
Point guard Jonathan Jordan led the way with 20 points, while Makhtar Gueye contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
Patriots’ resistance was led by veteran Ater Majok, who recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds, while former BAL Most Valuable Player Michael Dixon added 21 points. Their efforts, however, could not prevent the Blazers from closing out the contest.
Namuwongo now turn their attention to the final group game against Urunani, with Elite 16 qualification secured and the opportunity to finish the group stage strongly.
THE UTILITY
Winning Edge
Comeback Scare. Qualification is secured, but the Blazers’ overtime escape against Patriots showed that their BAL qualifying campaign will demand more than comfortable wins. After cruising past their first two opponents, Namuwongo had to withstand a second-half surge, recover from missed chances and deliver under pressure. That resilience could prove just as valuable as their scoring power when the Elite 16 stage arrives.
ROAD TO BAL – HOIMA
East Division Group D Results
Nam Blazers 109-45 Ushindzi (Comoros)
Nam Blazers 99-56 COSPN (Madagascar)
Patriots ( South Sudan) 81-85 Nam Blazers (won in OT)