Sport-S on the brink

Sunday could be the day Sport-S end the National Volleyball League season. It is in their hands.

Their two sides are in control of the finals series against Nemostars and KCB-Nkumba, with each needing one more victory to close the season and hoist the trophy.

Winning Game One last Sunday left the men’s side on the brink and more of the same will be enough to land a third straight title, which will be the team’s record seventh.

The defending champions were calm under pressure in Game One, recovering from a 21-18 deficit in the fourth set to win it 28-26 and close the match.

“We kept calm, especially at the time when we had so many errors,” team captain Dickens Otim told Sunday Monitor in the aftermath of Game One.

Otim, who started the season as a back up to Samuel Engwau and Emmanuel Okia, is now in the thick of things as a starter following Okia’s injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

The experienced middle blocker played a huge part in Game One, his presence in the service box troubling Nemostars in the fourth frame to ensure the champions avoided going into a decisive set.

Sport-S’ defense, on the net and the back court, proved decisive on the day, with Daniel Gum Malil, Jonathan Tumukunde and Engwau providing great net defence.

That Tumukunde and Otim combined to bring down George Aporu for the last point of the match was a clear reflection of the team’s defensive effort that frustrated most Nemostars players, especially Esau Ecil.

Nemo not happy

One of the first things Nemostars protested after Game One was the use of the Video Challenge System managed by the Sport-S media team.

Sport-S have used their equipment to stream the league on YouTube and referees have benefitted from the VCR system to review close calls and make decisions.

But once most of the reviewed calls appeared to be on Sport-S’ side in Game One, Nemostars protested and asked for the system to be put aside and line judges reintroduced.

By press time, the Sports Organizing Commission had yet to make a decision on the use of VCR for Game Two.

“We learnt our lessons and can only promise ourselves to do better in the subsequent games,” Nemostars captain George Aporu told this publication ahead of today’s must-win encounter.

Nemo must win to stay alive in the series.

Win or go home

For KCB-Nkumba, defeat is not an option if they are to defend the title. Having fallen in straight sets in Game One, Tonny Lakony’s charges must greatly improve to stand a chance today.

The Sport-S attack made light work of the Nkumba block, with Hillary Akankunda unplayable until she went down injured.

Sport-S are within touching distance of a first-ever league title, and the experience of those who have won prior will come in handy.

Setter Doreen Akiteng and middle blocker Agnes Akanyo have won before with the team on the other side of the net and will be eager to help their teammates get to the table of winners.

With players like Comfort Twesiime, Esther Tumwebaze, Shamilah Kalanzi, Renata Kamahoro and Patricia Musubika, Sport-S are arguably the most complete team in the league.

It remains to be seen whether they can rely on that and win their first league title.

National Volleyball League Finals

Game Two

Women: Sport-S vs. KCB-Nkumba, 2pm

Men: Nemostars vs. Sport-S, 4pm