Nemostars failed to defend the Uganda Volleyball League title, losing the best of three series 2-1 in Old Kampala to OBB Volleyball Club.
OBB won game three (25-22,22-25, 25-19, 25-21) to claim their maiden Uganda National Volleyball League title and earning the rights to represent Uganda at the African Club Championship this year.
Details.
Set one
Nemo won the toss and chose to receive first in the much anticipated game on Sunday at the Old Kampala arena.
A block from center player Salva Muothic gave OBB their first point moments at the start as Nemo collected theirs from Jonathan’s dump that led to a net foul by OBB.
OBB appeared to be the stronger side in the first five points of play time despite losing two services through Ongom and Kiplagat who later became a problem to Andrew Okapis’ side in the fourth set.
OBB extended their lead to 5 points with a block on Tumukunde by Ivan Ongom before George reignited Nemo’s chase with a pipe from back court though Tom Amou’s service in the net kept them at the back seat.
Nemo seemed exhausted from yesterday’s game as former Marek Union-Ivkoni Dupnitsa’s Ivan Ongom’s power brought home the set’s last point to give OBB the first set of the day.
Set two
Nemo’s head coach Andrew Okapis picked up a yellow card for questioning the referees’ decision in the already heated up game.
However, the game came to a halt after OBB’s setter JB Opendi picked up a knee injury bringing on court Hussein Adome. Libero Sharif Nabanji too went down in life threatening save but his fighting spirit brought him back to the battle field despite the neck injury.
Experienced JB opendi got back on bench bringing back a ray of light to the OBB camp and relieving young Hussein from the pressure.
Countless mistakes from OBB and Nemo did nothing but capitalise on them to pedal their quest for set two which they won and got back into the game after squaring matters with a set for themselves too.
Set three
A relaxed Nemo in set three gave room for OBB to come from 2 points down and lead the set. However, it was a very uncomfortable lead as Nemo trailed point by point.
Nemo looked frustrated as OBB comfortably cruised 5 points ahead of them. Kelvin Kiplagat’s service on Tom Amou handed OBB a perfect lead in the set scores. 2-1
Set four
OBB gave Nemostars a daring 7 point lead in set four and they surely looked like they could do nothing about it as Tumukunde’s attack in the net handed OBB their maiden trophy at their first trial.
“We have ourselves to blame, but i want to congratulate OBB for the good show, we will regroup and resume in a week or two for the new season”. George Aporu Captain Nemostars
In the women category, Ndejje University breathed through VVC to win a double this year. The University side won the 2022 National Club Championship, a perfect feat under Coach Ronald Kitosi.
Ndejje, KCCA qualified to represent Uganda at the women’s African Club Championships slated in Tunis, Tunisia, from May 19 to June 1, 2022 while OBB and Sport-S qualified to represent the Uganda in The Men’s Africa Club Championship May 5-18th 2022.
