ZUBL: Ndejje, Makerere emerge as champions

By Charles Mutebi 

Zuku University Basketball League

Finals

Women: Makerere 90 UCU 87

Men: Ndejje 61 UCU 45

Third-place playoffs

Women: Ndejje 56 Kampala 47

Men: Cavendish 58 Makerere 52

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player

Women: Claire Lamunu (Makerere)

Men: Jonah otim (Ndejje)

Most Defensive Player

Women: Claire Lamunu  

Men: Jonathan Egau (UCU)

Most offensive Player

Men: Jonah Otim

Women: Purity Odiahmbo (UCU) 

NDEJJE and Makerere took slightly different paths to the finals of the Zuku University Basketball League (ZUBL) Saturday at Lugogo. But in the end, both emerged champions, Makerere winning the women’s title and Ndejje the men’s. 

Makerere shocked overwhelming favourites UCU 90-88 in what easily the game of the tournament. Makerere had lost three times before, all to UCU. So the most likely outcome was a fourth win for a UCU side yet to lose. 

But Winnie Anyango, Claire Lamunu and Joy Chemutai inspired Makerere, shooting and running past the odds and all the way to a title they celebrated by dancing around in the middle of the court for minutes. 

For UCU, there was disbelief and a reminder that sport can punish overconfidence. 

UCU’s trouble was doubled after Ndejje overpowered their men’s team in the subsequent final. Ndejje jumped out to a 20-5 first quarter lead before UCU bounced back in the second quarter to make it 28-27. 

But, driven by captain Geoffrey Soro and MVP Jonah Otim, Ndejje got away for good in the second half to ensure they completed the ZUBL unbeaten. But most importantly as champions.