Wathum's KCCA Panthers secure season's first victory
Mar 30, 2023
After a sluggish start, they turned it on to win each of the next three quarters by three, five, and seven points.
KCCA Panthers' Salim Kisilu (right) blocks UPDF Tomahawks' Arthur Wanyoto. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Charles Mutebi
Sports journalist @New Vision
National Basketball League
KCCA 62 UPDF 58
Oilers 88 Rezlife 55
Salim Kisilu nailed a team-high 15 points and the KCCA Panthers rallied from a 14-point second-quarter deficit to defeat the UPDF Tomahawks 62-58 for their first victory of the 2023 National Basketball League.
Wilson Otweyo added 13 for KCCA, who had fired blanks in their first two games of the season, and looked in serious trouble after a sluggish start that saw them outscored 15-4 in the first quarter. Brian Wathum knew the solution: full-court press.
The Panthers turned it on and changed the game in their favour.
UPDF’s Godwin Muhamireho (left) drives past KCCA Panthers' Rin Tueny Mabor and Emmanuel Odongkara. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
UPDF's David Opolot (right) drives past KCCA Panthers' Emmanuel Odongkara. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
They won each of the next three quarters by three, five, and seven points.
UPDF, who beat the Kampala Rockets in their opening game of the season, was led by Arthur Wanyoto, with a game-high 20 points. Godwin Muhamireho added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Baker Kyambadde’s side, for whom it doesn’t get any easier in the next outing.
UPDF face the high-flying City Oilers on Sunday in what will be the champions’ sixth game of the campaign. Yesterday the Oilers played their fourth and it went according to ease type, Mandy Juruni’s side rolling to an 88-55 victory over the Rezlife saints.
City Oilers' Fayed Bbaale (right) takes on Rez Life Saints' Caleb Katumba. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
City Oilers' Titus Lual (right) takes on Rez Life Saints' Emmanuel Okot. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Oilers star Fayed Bbaale continued his hot three-pointing shooting streak, nailing 5-of-11 to lead all scorers with 19 points.
Titus Lual grabbed 18 points and 15 rebounds, with Ruai Luak, Michael Ngut, and Jimmy Enabu adding 12, 11, and 10 points respectively for the 4-0 Oilers.
Thok Timothy scored a team-high 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Saints, with Michel Otieno and Benjamin Kawumi adding 12 and 10 points respectively.
Rezlife are now 0-3.
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