FUBA National Basketball League-Playoffs 2018
Friday, 07-09-2018
MTN Arena, Lugogo
-Pemba Warriors 59-63 JKL Dolphins
-A1 Challenge 66-61 Nkumba Lady Marines
LUGOGO – JKL Dolphins produced a breath taking fourth quarter display to overcome Pemba Warriors 63-59 in game one of the 2018 FUBA NBL playoff.
The Dolphines were trailing by as many as seven points with just over three minutes to play but powered their way back, scoring 12 points whilst conceding one, en route to victory.
JKL’s Ivan Lumanyika got the game rolling with the first points of the day off a jump shot in the first few minutes.
The first quarter was more of a contest as both side’s traded baskets and eventually ending it 16-16.
The second was more like the first but Warriors edged it 18-16 to ensure that they take a slim two point lead into halftime.
Despite a slow start to the third by both sides, Warriors took the initiative, winning it 15-10 with the scoreboard reading 49-42.
All the drama was left for late in the fourth:
Trailing by four points, JKL’s Gaki Daniel scored a three pointer to reduce the deficit to just a point inside the last 30 seconds.
With 19 seconds to go, Ochen replicated his shooting heroics as he made another shot from downtown as JKL overturned the deficit and led by two.
Makala Libe’s two with 14 seconds on the clock coupled with Yesman Bushiri’s conversion of one of his two free throws was more of an icing to the cake as JKL won the encounter 63-59.
JKL’s Brian Namake scored a game high 18 points. Ivan Lumanyika contributed eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists to the victory.
Amisi Saidi scored a team high 12 points for Pemba Warriors.
In the other game, A1 Challenge edged Nkumba Lady Marines 66-61 in a closely contested affair.
A1 trailed the first quarter 12-17, but the side bounced back to win the second 17-10.
Nkumba won the third quarter 11-13 to level the score 40-40 going into the last ten minutes.
The lead exchanged hands on various occasions but it still remained neck to neck, tied 59-59 with just a minute to go. A1, started to break away with a late rally and the side eventually sealed a 66-61 victory.
The four teams that played on Friday, will face off again on Sunday for game two.
FUBA NBL – Saturday:
-KCCA Leaoprads vs Angels @10:00am
-JKL Lady Dolphins vs UMU Ravens @12:00pm
-City Oilers vs Sharing Youth @02:00pm
-UCU Lady Canons vs KIU Rangers @04:00pm
-KIU Titans vs UCU Canons @06:00pm
-BetWay Power vs Nkumba @08:00pm
