JT Lady Jaguars closed the opening round of the National Basketball League with a statement performance, dismantling Angels 80-22 at YMCA Court on Sunday to underline their status as early title favourites.
The result capped a near-perfect first phase for the Jaguars, who finished top of the table with 10 wins in 11 games, driven by a suffocating defence and consistent all-round displays.
Head coach Sudi Ulanga praised his side’s discipline, energy and collective effort throughout the campaign.
“We are proud of how the girls have performed in the first round. They showed hunger, teamwork and discipline. Finishing top is good, but we know the job is not done and we must stay focused,” Ulanga said.
The Jaguars left little doubt about their superiority against Angels, storming to a 21-4 first-quarter lead through relentless full-court pressure. The defensive intensity continued into the second quarter, where Angels endured a six-minute scoring drought and managed just a single point from the free-throw line.
By halftime, the game was effectively decided with the Jaguars holding a 30-point cushion.
“We started strong and followed our game plan well. The players defended as a unit and shared the ball in attack. That is the identity we want going into the second round,” Ulanga added.
After the break, Angels showed brief resistance but still managed only 10 points in the third quarter before collapsing further in the final period, where they were restricted to just two points as the Jaguars cruised to a 58-point blowout.
Priscillar Nambogo led the scoring with 15 points, while Brenda Kayaga added 13. Shakirah Nanvubya and Mercy Batamuliza also hit double figures with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Ulanga credited the team’s growth mindset, pointing to last season’s finals defeat as a key turning point.
“Losing the finals last season gave us experience and showed the players the level needed. It pushed us to work harder and become mentally stronger this season,” he said.
Elsewhere, Nabisunsa Girls pulled off one of the standout results of the round with a 59-49 win over Pearl Queens, led by 16-point contributions from both Martha Yikuru and Joyce Auma.
In the wider standings, the Jaguars finished top with 21 points, boasting the league’s best defence after conceding just 456 points while scoring 768.
UCU Lady Canons sit second with 10 wins, closely followed by KCCA Leopards in third. Defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins are fourth despite leading the league in scoring, while consistency remains their main concern.
At the other end, Angels endured a difficult campaign, finishing bottom with just one win and the league’s weakest defence after conceding 759 points.
