City Oilers hope for soft landing after latest defeat to UCU
Brian Namake outstripped Oilers guards Enabu and Komakech. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
What you need to know:
Basketball. Juruni’s team only made 4 of 29 from behind the arc with two-time MVP Ben Komakech failing to connect on eight attempts. Geoff Omondi’s 14 points hardly papered a torrid night.
Kampala.
Mandy Juruni has earned the respect of many with success at various clubs and the national team - the Silverbacks.
UCU Canons have earned a lot of respect from him too and hopefully his team is not developing a mental block.
“When a team beats you as many times as they have beaten us, you have to give them the credit they deserve,” the City Oilers’ coach told Daily Monitor. “I have respect for them.”
UCU stunned Oilers last Friday at YMCA court, clawing back a 14-point deficit, for a 74-65 result, their fourth in a row over the champions.
Throw in the last two UCU Invitational finals that have been split and the head-to-head reads an ugly UCU 5-2 Oilers.
That UCU are yet to beat Oilers when it matters most, the playoffs, is obvious. But does this slide worry Juruni in case a playoff matchup with UCU is thrown at him next month?
Today, the champions return to YMCA seeking redemption against free-falling Ndejje University Angels.
“Yes, it does (bother me),” Juruni added. “We tend to make bad decisions against them. Of course playoffs are different but you don’t want to play a team that has beaten you so many times.”
Oilers led 39-36 at the halfway mark only for UCU to pull away with a 38-26 margin in the second stanza, limiting their opponents to rushed shots.
More impressively, UCU’s inside game limited MVP Kami Kabange to 13 points and 10 rebounds as he shot only 6 for 15 from the field. In a lethargic Geoffrey Soro, Ndejje don’t pose the same threat.
Juruni’s team only made four of 29 from behind the arc with two-time MVP Ben Komakech failing to connect on eight attempts. Geoff Omondi’s 14 points hardly papered a torrid night.
“Mentally, we have to improve and play as a team,” Juruni said. They didn’t share the ball, took so many wrong shots and turned the ball over easily.
AIRTEL BASKETBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Today
City Oilers vs Ndejje (7.30pm)
WOMEN:
Crane vs KIU (5.30pm)
RESULTS
Diamonds 52-75 Warriors
Power 83-64 Nkumba
KIU 75-63 Sharing
WOMEN:
KIU 61-78 UCU
