The Throne is not Given: Blazers survive Oilers’ challenge in Game One

Before a champion can prove it deserves the crown, they must first survive the challenger that remembers what wearing it felt like.

That was the story as reigning champions Namuwongo Blazers opened the 2026 National Basketball League Finals with a hard-fought 73-67 victory over the City Oilers at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, taking the first step in a best-of-seven series that already promises twists, bruises and plenty of late-night debates among basketball fans. 

For the Oilers, this was more than just another finals game. The former kings of Ugandan basketball ruled the league for a decade, lifting ten league titles before being dethroned by the Blazers last season. For the Blazers, however, this is unfamiliar territory. Despite being the defending champions, they have only one championship, meaning this is the first title defence in the club’s history.

Both sides entered the finals full of confidence after impressive regular seasons and emphatic semifinal sweeps. Yet, as Game One proved, the regular season is merely the invitation. The finals demand a different conversation.

The final score may suggest a comfortable six-point victory, but there was nothing comfortable about it.

Nam Blazers established control early, taking the opening quarter 25-14 before weathering every City Oilers comeback attempt. While the Oilers edged the final quarter 20-15, the damage had already been done. The Blazers never allowed their experienced rivals to completely seize momentum. 

Ironically, the Blazers did not shoot particularly well. They managed just 30 per cent from the field and only 28 per cent from three-point range. Those are numbers that normally send coaches reaching for the headache tablets.

They forced 24 turnovers while committing only 19 themselves, converted those mistakes into 16 points, dominated the fast-break battle 26-15 and constantly disrupted the Oilers’ rhythm with aggressive perimeter defence that produced 13 steals. 

Patrick Rembert was sensational for the Oilers. His game-high 28 points kept City Oilers alive through difficult stretches and repeatedly dragged his side back into contention. Germaine Roebuck Jr. added a commanding 14 rebounds alongside eight points, while Joel Lukoji chipped in with 9 points.

Unfortunately for City Oilers, basketball rarely rewards one-man rescue missions. While Rembert produced, his teammates struggled offensively. Landry Ndikumana managed only eight points from 11 attempts, Fayed Baale shot just 2-for-8, Jonathan Komagum scored only once, and Titus Lual endured a scoreless outing after missing all five of his field-goal attempts. The team as a whole converted just five of twenty two 3-point attempts and committed 24 turnovers, simply too many against a team built to punish mistakes. 

Fataki Nyembo led the Blazers with 18 points and nine rebounds despite an inefficient shooting night. Tonny Drileba orchestrated the offence brilliantly with 16 points and nine assists while collecting five steals. Innocent Ochera exploded off the bench with 15 points, giving Namuwongo the offensive spark whenever the Oilers threatened to close the gap. Peter Obleng added nine valuable points and eight rebounds in limited minutes. 

It wasn’t pretty basketball. It was winning basketball.

The Blazers will celebrate the victory, but the coaching staff knows there is considerable room for improvement.

Shooting 24-for-78 from the field, only 11-for-38 from beyond the arc and just 32 per cent inside the arc is unlikely to win many finals games if City Oilers tidy up their mistakes. Anthony Chukwubuka and James Okello combined to shoot only 2-for-16, while Fataki Nyembo needed 17 shots for his 18 points. 

If those percentages improve even slightly, the Blazers become considerably more dangerous.

For City Oilers, however, the priorities are more urgent. Turnovers repeatedly gifted Namuwongo easy transition opportunities, while poor three-point shooting allowed the Blazers to pack the paint defensively. The Oilers actually outrebounded the Blazers 58-51 and scored more points inside the paint (32-22), evidence that they created enough opportunities to win. They simply failed to protect the ball and convert enough perimeter shots when they mattered most. 

Game One rarely decides a championship. It does, however, reveal where the pressure points lie.

The Blazers have landed the opening punch and demonstrated that championship composure extends beyond hot shooting nights. They proved they can win ugly, defend relentlessly and trust different players to answer the call.

The Oilers, meanwhile, have every reason to believe this series remains within reach. If they reduce turnovers, find secondary scoring behind Rembert and rediscover their shooting touch, the ten-time champions possess enough quality to swing the momentum.

But finals basketball has a peculiar sense of humour.

Game One whispered a simple message to both teams: reputation doesn’t score points, trophies don’t defend themselves, and in a series between yesterday’s dynasty and today’s champion, every possession now carries the weight of history.

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