When the final buzzer sounded on Game 5 of the National Basketball League (NBL) Finals, securing a hard-fought victory over the JT Lady Jaguars and handing the UCU Lady Canons a record-extending ninth championship title, no one’s smile was brighter than forward Zoe Atek’s.
Joining a powerhouse franchise like UCU comes with immensurable expectation, yet in just her second season with the Mukono-based side, Atek has already etched her name into the university’s rich basketball lore.
Reflecting on the triumph, an ecstatic Atek paid tribute to the collective effort that carried them to the summit of Ugandan women’s basketball.
“It’s my first championship and I am proud of the ladies and the coaches at large. It’s my second year with the team and I am lucky that I have won the trophy this soon because it’s such a wonderful feeling,” Atek shared post-match.
Throughout a grueling, high-stakes final series, UCU was repeatedly tested by a resolute Lady Jaguars squad.
Yet, when momentum threatened to swing, the Lady Canons leaned on their collective discipline and chemistry, a dynamic Atek pointed to as the decisive factor.
“Yes, we faced a tough opponent but we remained composed as a team. Yes, there were ups and downs but we kept together as a team,” she added.
Atek’s maturation over the course of the campaign was instrumental to UCU’s championship run.
Far from being a passive passenger on a veteran-led squad, her poise under pressure, defensive energy, and vital offensive contributions provided UCU with crucial depth during the playoff push.
For the Lady Canons, lifting the title reinstates their dominance at the peak of the NBL.
For Zoe Atek, securing top-flight silverware so early in her collegiate tenure marks not just a dream milestone, but an emphatic warning to the rest of the league: her journey at the top has only just begun.