Zuku University League in a free-for-all finale

By Charles Mutebi

Zuku University Basketball League Finals: (Today, Lugogo)

A feast. A carnival. A grand finale. These are just some of the ways organisers hope the final day of the Zuku University Basketball League (ZUBL) will turn out.

“We want to see all the universities (in the ZUBL) coming out to celebrate the league as their property,” said ZUBL official Abel Nson ahead of the season climax at Lugogo.

“We want them to come out and show why the university league is a big deal.” Today is the biggest day of the maiden ZUBL season, which started two months ago and attracted 10 universities.

And organisers have promised a fun- packed menu to compliment the day’s main business of crowning the champions.

Musical performances have been lined up for what is expected to be a big crowd. The finalists will surely mobilise enough support with all that is at stake.

The final four had not been determined by press time with the semi-finals having been scheduled for yesterday evening. Even then UCU and Makerere are likely to meet in the women’s final while UCU and Ndejje are favourites to contest the men’s crown.

Of course, the organisers made no secret of their desire to see these predictions defied, knowing full well that one of sports enduring beauties is watching an underdog chase glory.

Heading into yesterday’s semi- finals Makerere and Cavendish were the outsiders for the men’s title.

Makerere, with its cast of upcoming talents like Famy Sebatandira and Tony Drileba, were set to play UCU for a place in the final while Cavendish were in line for a third crack at Ndejje after losing their last two meetings narrowly.