Rezlife take huge step towards postseason

National Basketball League

Results

Women

Stormers 62 Angels 50

Men

Namuwongo 97 Livingstone 48

Rezlife 63 Victoria 46 

If the Rezlife Saints, as it increasingly appears, make it to the National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs, they will probably look back on the two wins over the Victoria Crocs with special fondness. 

The second of those wins came Sunday at Lugogo. And, boy, was it needed. 

Desire Akeno grabbed a game-high 16 points to go along with 11 rebounds as Rezlife routed direct playoff rival Victoria 63-46. The victory, which saw Michael Otieno add 13 points and 10 rebounds, ensured Moses Okwera’s Saints secured the tiebreaker, in addition to helping them leapfrog Victoria into eighth place. 

Nothing is guaranteed yet, neither for Rezlife nor Victoria. Both have three games left to play, and both could finish higher up the table or miss out on the postseason entirely. Rezlife could finish the regular season as high as sixth place, while Victoria could finish as high as fifth. 

Still, if current form is anything to go by, Otieno and the Saints are a safe bet to reach the postseason. They have won three of their last four games, and their last three matches (against KCCA Panthers, Livingstone and JKL) are all winnable.

Victoria, who were led by David Mayon (with 11 points), also have a friendly schedule to finish the campaign, with two of their opponents being the already relegated KIU Titans and Livingstone.