Double glory as Uganda wins FIBA U-18 Africa Zone V Basketball Championship
Ugandans teams for both the male and females have won the FIBA U-18 Zone V Basketball Championship 2024.
Uganda beat neighbouring Rwanda 69-66 in a tightly-contested boys game played at Lugogo indoor stadium in Kampala.
The Ugandans team led 19-17 in the first stanza but Rwanda turned the tables 17-10 in the second to take a 34-29 half time cushion.
Uganda had the advantage in the third 22-16 and sealed it 18-16 in the deciding quarter.
Captain Tejan Joel and Peter Sserunji led Uganda with 15 points apiece while Gideon Ekukwan shot 14 and Edrine Ekau dropped 13.
For Rwanda, Dylan Kayijuka dropped a game-high 26 points and Jonas Nsingiza added 13.
In the one side game, the Ugandan girls’ team edged Rwanda 82-52.
Led by skipper Christine Namyalo, Uganda took a 41-24 lead at halftime before sealing the win at 82-52. Resty Nanangwe scored a game-high 21 points, while Shiphrah Kiranda added 18 points to lead the Junior Gazelles.
For Rwanda, Brigitte Nibishaka and Rebecca Cyuzuzo scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Earlier in the girls’ playoff match, Kenya defeated Tanzania 70-63 to finish third, while Kenya beat Tanzania 79-71 in the boys’ playoff.
The two Ugandan teams have now qualified for the FIBA U-18 African Championship, scheduled for August 2024 in South Africa
