Sunday night at Lugogo, the curtains fell on the Division One Season 2019 with a thrilling tie-breaking game five that yielded the UPDF Tomahawks as the Men’s Division One Champions of 2019. The nerve racking game was mostly a testament of how brutal basketball can be; how important every shot is, made or missed; and how tricklingly time dies and hearts are broken.
Both teams had just about 24 hours to settle their pending business after Nam Blazers tied the series with a 83-77 win of game four on Saturday night. There was a bit of impromptu adjustments in venue and match officials which led to some bit of anxiety. The game which was earlier scheduled to be played at YMCA was moved to the Lugogo Arena for fear of bad weather and refs John Omondi and Kelvin Omwenga were on a late notice drafted to handle the game.
UPDF went on the early attempt to take charge of the game going on 10-0 run in Q1 but the Blazers quickly adjusting to the physical challenge posed by the Tomahawks to end the quarter trailing by 7 pts (26 -19).
The Blazers were playing without Peter Cheng who had carried them the night before with a double double of 23 points and 16 rebs. Sources inside Blazers told us that Cheng couldn’t be risked because he had two UCE exams on Monday. But Blazers point guard Christopher Nwang coming off the bench after starter Ruai Luak’s first quarter injury scare, quickly became the architect of the Blazers offense, creating looks for his scorers especially Vicent Yiki who would finish with the team high 20 pts. Forward Chol Nyout was visibly hype to take over from Cheng, he would finish with 18 points for his team.
Just like in game four, One point separated the two teams at halftime with UPDF Tomahawks leading 40 – 39. The third quarter was characterized by some cautious play but Namuwongo Blazers broke into the lead at it’s stroke with 55-50.
The game took a dramatic turn with 5:26 to play in the fourth quarter when ref Omondi called an off-the-ball holding foul on Tomahawks star forward Moses Muhumuza. It was his fifth personal foul, after 31 minutes on the floor, Big Moze was exiting with 12 pts and 9 rebs.
With Big Moze out of the game, arguably the Finals MVP Felix Mukunzi was left to provide all the traits of hope for the Tomahawks. Felix was inking his name on the finals and was in works for his second double double in two nights with the game high 23 pts and 10 rebs.
Vicent Yiki took over for the Blazers with two And ones to give the Blazers a 1 pt (70-69) advantage on a dying game clock. On the subsquent possession, Felix Mukunzi drives and attempts but misses, he gets the board off his miss but fumbles in search for space to make a potential game winner, turning the ball over with just 6.3 seconds.
Blazers have possession and Coach Steve calls a time out and on the play, point guard Nwang loses the handle into his own half, Peter Senfuka (19 points) keeps pressure with a chase forcing Nwang into a blocking foul. Ref Omondi calls shooting two. You have to give it to Senfuka also called 32 for his composure under the pressure to swish the two free throws that gave the Tomahawks a fragile 71-70 lead with 2.5 seconds left.
“That was a very professional call for a ref in this division. Clearly, it couldn’t be an offensive foul because he didn’t have the ball. He committed a blocking foul while attempting to stop the back-court violation “- Coach Baker (UPDF) told Cucu Brian when asked about the contested call that sent Senfuka to the line.
Time Out Blazers on 2.5 seconds left and they advance the ball. On the subsquent play, James Olobo is called for a pushing foul on Vicent Yiki – Shooting two on just 2.0 seconds. Yiki uncharacteristically misses both, in the scuffle for the rebound, UPDF is saved by the final buzzer that sends them into champs’ frenzy while hearts of the Blazers get broken.
“It was a beautiful game of basketball, a very beautiful game. I thought it was over for us when Olobo was called for a foul on Yiki. I didn’t think he was gonna miss. Those are some talented young players.” – Coach Baker.
UPDF has broken the jinx that has existed in Division One. It has always been said that teams that finish the regular season as number one seed don’t win the Championship.
It’s the start of a rivalry which will be renewed when both teams clash in the NBL next year.
Cucu Brian | Twitter: @Cucubrian
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