Nam Blazers qualify for Elite 16 despite loss to Urunani

• Urunani 81-79 Nam Blazers

Namuwongo Blazers suffered a narrow 81-79 defeat to Urunani in their final Road to BAL group D encounter at Hoima City Arena on Sunday.

Despite the loss, the National Basketball League (NBL) champions secured qualification for the Elite 16, scheduled to take place in Nairobi next month.

The Blazers finished their campaign with a 3-1 record, missing out on top spot in Group D but doing enough to progress to the next stage.

Luis Alberto Luiz’s charges suffered a major setback ahead of the contest after Richard Pack was ruled out with an injury.

The hosts made a slow start, trailing 29-21 at the end of the opening quarter, but responded strongly to take a narrow 45-43 lead into halftime.

However, the momentum shifted after the break as the Blazers managed just 13 points in the third quarter, allowing Urunani to regain the advantage and head into the final period with a 63-58 lead.

Namuwongo struggled to regain control in the closing stages, lacking the composure and offensive structure needed to contain Urunani’s relentless attack as the Burundian giants held on for a two-point victory.

Jordan led the Blazers’ scoring with a game-high 25 points, alongside eight rebounds and nine assists, stepping up on a day when several of his teammates struggled to find their shooting touch.

Fataki Nyembo and Peter Olisemeka added 14 points apiece, while Peter Obleng contributed 12 points and Makhtar Gueye finished with 10.

For Urunani, Muhamane Coulibaly led the way with 23 points, while Tyrone Stubbs added 16. Chingka Kennedy and Bamba Diallo chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Blazers will now turn their attention to the Elite 16, where they will seek to build on their performances in Hoima and push for a place in the Basketball Africa League.

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