Finals:
Men: UCU Canons 45 – 61 Ndejje University
Women: UCU Lady Canons 87 – 90 Muk Sparks.
Third Place play offs:
Men: Cavendinsh University 58-52 Makerere University
Women: Ndejje University 66 – 47 Kampala University
Makerere University ladies basketball team and Ndejje University (Men) are the champions of the 2014 ZUKU TV University basketball tournament.
This inaugural tourney ended with the conference national championship finals at Lugogo on Saturday evening.
The 2014 championships that attracted12 universities will be hailed as a complete success as the primary goal of identifying new talent was fulfilled.
In the action packed finals held at the MTN Indoor arena in Lugogo, Makerere University lady Sparks team held on to their early lead in the opening quarters to beat UCU Lady canons 90 – 87 in the first final played.
Ladies’ most valuable player (MVP), Claire Lamunu recorded a team high 26 points that included one eye catching three pointer. Lamunu, who also scooped the most ladies’ most defensive gong had 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
UCU lady canon’s Moureen Amoding registered 29 points (including 4 three pointers) to record the game’s highest individual score mark (7 rebounds and 3 assists).
Purity Odiambo supplemented Amoding’s effort with 28 points with 17 rebounds and 6 assists.
“The girls played according to the instructions and guidelines earlier planned and thats how we managed to win”, Albert Aciko told Kawowo Sports after the game.
His Counterpart at UCU, Boniface Okello blamed his team’s loss to poor refereeing. “Most of the calls from the referee targeted pinning my team and sending off the touchline was completely uncalled off. He must be having a personal grudge against me”, Okello fumed after the game.
Ndejje University University Angels overcame UCU Canons 61 – 45 in the tense men’s finals where musician Bebe Cool performed at half time.
James Okello led the scoring charts with a game high 15 points, with 5 rebounds. Towering forward followed with 14 points with 8 rebounds.
UCU’s Jonthan Egau, who was also voted the tourney’s most defensive player finished the finals with 10 points coming off 10 rebounds and one assist.
The national championships champions (Ndejje and Makerere Universities) smiled home with mega cash prize of shs. 2,700,000 for both men and women categories the winners.
The first runners up (UCU who lost both finals) in either gender were rewarded shs. 1,200,000 while the third placed teams got shs. 650,000.
For first time in Uganda, University basketball games were aired live and in HD on ZUKU Sports channel 300.
Individual awards:
Most Valuable Players (MVP’s):
Men:Jonah otim (Ndejje University)
Women: Claire Lamunu (Makerere University)
Most Defensive (Women): Claire Lamunu
Most Defensive (Men): Jonathan Egau
Most offensive (men): Jonah Otim
Most offensive (Women): Purity Odiahmbo