Lady Canons in sixth heaven

UCU Lady Canons players and coach Nick Natuwereza celebrate after defeating KCCA Leopards to lift the 2016 national basketball title. Photo by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

  • Ritah Imanishimwe led with a team high 16 points while Vilma Achieng added 13 and nine rebounds and Judith “Ayo” Nansobya added 10 for the Lady Canons.

KAMPALA.

Seventh heaven can be referred to as the final state of eternal bliss or place of residence of immortal beings.

UCU Lady Canons might not quite be there yet but domestically at least; they are working their way in that direction.

Regarded as slight underdogs despite being reigning champions, the Mukono based University side again showed that the virtue of teamwork can supersede that of individual quality.

In a rollercoaster series, the Nick Natuhereza coached side took a 2-0 lead before losing three straight games. Many will however, look back at a point in game six when with seven seconds left, Flavia Oketcho changed coach Timothy Odeke’s final play and opted to shoot rather than pass to Maureen Amoding.

The KCCA Leopards never recovered being out played in overtime for a 78-75 game six loss.

The defeat seemed to set the tone for the decider at the Lugogo MTN Arena on Friday with their opponents banking on the win for a 66-61 triumph and back to back titles.

Natuhereza then counting on the momentum generated from leveling the series then rallied his troops for 34-21 lead at the halfway point.

“We persevered even when the series seemed not be going our way,” he later stated.

“It was a team effort. It is difficult to choose an outstanding player in the series,” added Natuhereza while singling out Nansobya, Imanishimwe and Sarah Ageno.

“One game it was Ayo then Ritah then Ageno but the team did well as a group,” he said.

In congratulating his opponents, KCCA’s Timothy Odeke rued his team’s lack of cohesion and athleticism. “They were athletic and caught us on transition which was their advantage. Our experience didn’t count,” he said in summing up his team’s performance on the day.

Martha Soigi led with 17 points and 11 rebounds, Muhayimina Namuwaya added 15 and 16 boards.
KCCA were then forced into rushed shots despite clawing a 20 point deficit and leading half way through the final period.

PAST CHAMPIONS
2016 – UCU Lady Canons
2015 – UCU Lady Canons
2014 - KCCA Leopards
2013 – UCU Lady Canons
2012 – KCCA Leopards
2011 - UCU Lady Canons
2010 – UCU Lady Canons
2009 – KCCA Leopards
2008 – UCU Lady Canons
2007 – KCCA Leopards
2006 – Lady Bucks
2005 – A1 Challenge
2004 – Lady Bucks
2003 – Makerere Sparks
2002 – Lady Bucks
2001 – Lady Bucks
2000 – Lady Bucks
1999 – Lady Bucks
1998 – Lady Bucks