Nemo win fifth record tourney
Five titles: Nemostars players and fans celebrate with their trophy after defeating UCU 3-2 to emerge champions of the 2018 National Volleyball League at Lugogo Indoor Stadium. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
What you need to know:
- The title was also a perfect birthday gift for Nemo’s Tom Paul Amou.
Kampala. Nemostars always find a way to win. That was the take away from the Aziz Damani Volleyball League finals where Nemo recovered from four straight set losses in two games, against for Uganda Christian University (UCU) Doves, between Saturday and Sunday to win a fifth men’s title.
“This climax has been the sweetest,” Nemostars coach Andrew Okapis, said in the midst of their celebrations at MTN Arena, Lugogo.
His team sensed an opportunity to equal Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club (KAVC)’s record five championships and also qualify for the Africa Club Championships after struggling big time to get to the playoffs.
They eased past Sport-S in the semis and steamrollered UCU in Game One of the finals last Wednesday. Nemo started Game Two on Saturday on song but UCU showed why they are the best of the rest, recovering from four straight set losses too and shaking off injuries to force a decisive game on Sunday.
With injuries biting, coach Nason Bwesigye, had found a way out playing the limping Elias Isyagi as libero while Martin Oboke played setter ahead of Moses Odeke. That also allowed UCU have Samuel Engwau, Johnson Rukundo and John Mark Okurut on court at the same time.
Deogratius Anguria also came in, at the expensive of power attacker Jonathan Tumukunde, to do more defensive work but attacked effectively when called upon.
“We did a lot in managing our pressure (in Game Two). Even when we had no training, we would just go to court and talk,” Bwesigye shared.
Maybe, UCU needed a bit more of that talk after levelling the series but they were back in the thick of action less than 24 hours later. Despite winning the first set 25-23, Anguria and Oboke looked weary and fatigued at the end of the second as UCU allowed Nemo to win 26-24.
Nemo also won the third 25-22 but looked fatigued in the fourth as UCU equalled at 25-19.
In the decisive set, Deanz Aluka got his block right while his teammates George Aporu and Smith Okumu’s experience shone through, with the game tied at 8-8, to silence UCU.
The title was also a perfect birthday gift for Nemo’s Tom Paul Amou.
