Second-season syndrome hits Sommet as back-to-back losses

National Basketball League

Results

Victoria 59 Sommet 44

KCCA 58 UCU 56

Rezlife 70 Sommet 65

UMU 76 UPDF 72

Namuwongo 93 JKL 47

Oilers 87 UCU 80

Second-season syndrome is real for Sommet.

Two more defeats on the weekend left last year’s National Basketball League (NBL) semi-finalists one game above .500 and headed towards a fight for postseason qualification.

While Sommet’s 70-65 loss to Rezlife on Saturday was not a surprise, given their opponents have been the third-best team in the NBL, their subsequent 59-44 reverse to the Victoria Crocs on Sunday was.

The two losses dropped Sommet to 8-7 on the season, currently good for seventh in the NBL standings. Against Victoria, Sommet’s struggles were summed up by the failure of any of their players to reach double figures, with Mathew Kisakye finishing with a game-high nine points.

Their conquerors had three, including game leader Chuol Nyot with 16 points. Ex-Sommet skipper Mark Ngobi grabbed 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Cyrus Wobusobozi added 10.

Victoria outgunned Sommet 16-10 in the opening quarter and 21-12 in the third quarter, creating the necessary separation to secure their seventh win of the season. They improved to 7-9 on the campaign and are currently sixth in the standings.