By Michael Ainomugisha
Uganda Christian University’s UCU Lady Canons will seek qualification for the 2026 National Basketball League finals when they face KCCA Leopards in Game Four of their semi-final playoff at 7:00pm at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Coming into Game Four, UCU lead 2–1 in the best-of-five series after winning Game One 79–71 and Game Two 63–56. KCCA responded in Game Three with a 70–55 victory to keep their hopes of reaching the finals alive.
The Leopards now need another win to level the series at 2–2 and force a decisive Game Five, while UCU need one victory to book their place in the finals.
Game Four was moved from August 2 to August 14 after three Lady Canons, Sarah Namale, Mariam Namukwaya, and Zoe Atek, joined the Uganda Under-21 3×3 national team for the tournament in Tunisia.
How did they perform in Game Three?
Despite arriving late with only a few minutes to tip-off, the UCU Lady Canons did not look ready for the challenge. They started well, with Sylvia Nantongo and Martina Anyango scoring in quick succession, but the early energy soon faded as the points dried up.
UCU scored only two points in the final five minutes of the first half. The Lady Canons also struggled from beyond the arc, missing all their three-point attempts during the period. In those five minutes, they managed only one successful two-point attempt.
Anyango fought to keep UCU in the contest, finishing with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Nantongo also scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds, but the rest of the squad struggled to provide enough support as KCCA took control of the game.
What gives UCU a competing edge?
The Lady Canons entered the semi-finals during a difficult period, with the team balancing the demands of end-of-semester examinations while head coach Nicholas Natuhereza was away with the 3X3 Uganda Gazelles, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
With the head coach now available and the break in academic commitments, Natuhereza has had more time to prepare his side for Game Four.
UCU will look to use that preparation to respond to the Game Three defeat and regain control of the series.
A win for KCCA would level the series at 2–2 and force a deciding Game Five, scheduled for 4:00pm on August 16.
For the Lady Canons, Friday’s game presents an opportunity to finish the series and return to the NBL finals after missing out last season.
