Sport-S are one game away from progressing to the National Volleyball League finals after defeating defending champions OBB in Game One Saturday night at the Old Kampala Arena.

The regular season top seed overwhelmed OBB’s porous net defence, with Thon Maker doing most of the damage.

The defending champions struggled to get going all evening and now find themselves in a must-win situation in Game Two two weeks from now.

Ivan Ongom and John Bosco Opendi, who played a massive role in the team’s title-winning run last year, were in and out of the game and largely struggled.

It was the same case with Cosmas Apunyo, usually OBB’s best server, who had to be taken off.

OBB started with an early 05-02 run, but Augustine Odongo entered the service box to get Sport-S back in the contest.

Johnson Rukundo blocked his brother Jonathan Tumukunde to give Sport-S an 11-09 lead.

Apunyo struggled at the start and attacked outside to hand Sport-S a three-point advantage (18-15) and force OBB into a timeout.

From the timeout, Kelvin Kiplagat went through the block to reduce the deficit to two points.

With Sport-S leading 20-17, OBB introduced opposite Ongom and setter Opendi for Tumukunde and Hussein Adome, respectively.

Samuel Engwau blocked Tumukunde for Sport-S to seal the deal in the first set with a 25-20 triumph.

Brian Atuhaire replaced Apunyo to start the second set as OBB looked for a response.

Thon Maker and Rukundo continued to cause havoc to OBB’s net defence, and Sport-S raced to a 13-07 lead.

Sport-S took a two-set advantage (25-21) to close in on victory, and the defending champions had work to do.

Ongom, Apunyo and Opendi were all re-introduced to start the third set as OBB looked to get back in the game.

But there was no coming back, and the defending champions must now win Game Two to retain hopes of keeping the title in Iganga.

National Volleyball League Playoffs

Saturday result

Men:  Sport-S 3-0 OBB (25-20, 25-21, 25-21)