The Namuwongo Blazers inched closer to their first-ever Uganda National Basketball League (UNBL) title after a thrilling 71-68 victory over the City Oilers in Game 5 of the best-of-seven finals series. The win gives the Blazers a 3-2 series advantage, putting them one step away from a historic championship.
From the tip-off, the game was tightly contested. The Blazers held a narrow 25-23 lead after the first quarter, highlighted by clutch free-throws from Anthony Chukwubuka Chukwurah. By halftime, both teams were deadlocked at 41-41, demonstrating the evenly matched nature of the contest.
The third quarter saw a brief scoring drought, intensifying the tension as both sides struggled to find rhythm. The Blazers broke through with a jumper from Kurt Curry, quickly matched by a response from Joel Lukoji. Forward James Okello then delivered a buzzer-beating jumper that gave the Blazers a 58-54 advantage going into the final quarter.
Okello finished as the team’s top scorer with 17 points, while Lukoji and Chukwurah each added 10. The City Oilers were led by Kurt Curry’s 15 points and Chad Bowie’s 14, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Blazers’ resilience in the closing minutes.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Namuwongo Blazers are poised to claim their first UNBL crown if they can secure one more win in the series. Meanwhile, the City Oilers must regroup and respond quickly to defend their long-standing dominance in Ugandan basketball.