Lady Canons v Dolphins.
(2-3 series)
By Michael Ainomugisha
The UCU Lady Canons will face the JKL Lady Dolphins in a must-win Game 6 of the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL) Women’s Finals on Sunday, September 22, (today) at Lugogo Arena. The Lady Canons, who once held a 2-0 lead in the series, now find themselves trailing 3-2 after dropping three consecutive games.
The finals took a brief pause to accommodate player participation in the 3X3 Basketball Under-23 World Cup in Mongolia, where UCU’s Shillah Lamunu and JKL’s Becky Longom represented their respective teams. With the break now over, the pressure is on the Lady Canons to force a Game 7 or risk losing the championship to the Dolphins who are the defending champions.
Coach Nicholas Natuhereza remains optimistic about UCU’s chances of extending the series to a deciding Game 7, set for Wednesday, September 25, if they win on Sunday. The break, he believes, has given his team the mental reset they needed.
“We’ve worked on the issues we faced in the last few games, particularly our decision-making under pressure. This pause has helped us regain our composure, and I believe we’ll have our confidence back for tomorrow’s game.” Natuhereza said.
Natuhereza also called for strong support from fans, emphasising the importance of their presence at Lugogo Arena.
“Our fans’ support will be massive, and we’re looking forward to having them behind us today,” he added.
A win for the Lady Canons will push the series to a thrilling Game 7, while a loss will hand the JKL Lady Dolphins their second consecutive NBL championship.