Juruni ejected as Oilers flip Power
Sharing Points. Joseph Ikong discusses tactics with his Betway Power teammates during the Pepsi Fuba finals Game 3 against Oilers at the MTN Arena, Lugogo. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- Oilers’ Kami Kabange led all scorers with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Landry Ndikumana had 13 and 12 while Ben Komakech also had 13 points. Power, who lost talisman Joseph Ikong with over five minutes to play, were outrebounded 35-47.
KAMPALA.
Three-time National Basketball League defending champions City Oilers are creaking. Betway Power have more than rattled them. More importantly, Oilers are holding forte.
After winning Game Three in the Pepsi best-of-seven final series on Wednesday night at the Lugogo MTN Arena at take a 2-1 lead, Oilers could now take a decisive hold on this riveting series.
Game Four is tonight at the same venue after guard Jimmy Enabu dominated down stretch to erase an early 17-point deficit (26-9 after the first quarter) and win 75-71.
Mandy Juruni, their coach, is hoping they play as good as they did after his second quarter ejection for a double technical. “I only questioned the umpires’ positioning,” Juruni later argued.
“Maybe to win this year we need luck because we are not playing well. They are beating us on effort and now the game is even,” he added.
Enabu’s calm decided this one with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists while committing only two turnovers. However, he struggled behind the arc, connecting on only one of six attempts.
Oilers’ Kami Kabange led all scorers with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Landry Ndikumana had 13 and 12 while Ben Komakech also had 13 points. Power were outrebounded 35-47.
You could also argue that Power shot themselves in the foot. It felt like just like Game One when they lost 78-76. First, talisman Joseph Ikong got ejected with over five minutes to play.
He left the game with 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. “It’s part of the game,” Ikong said of the ejection that for some, cost his side the game.
Then, Michael Makiadi, 12 points and eight rebounds, took an ill-advised shot with Oilers leading 72-71 before free throws sealed their fate.
Isaac Afidra had 16 and Paul ‘MacGyver’ Odong scored 13. If there is one thing coach Arnold Lando to improve is the involvement of Odong with the game on the line.
Power, who led 54-47 heading into the fourth, clearly scent the champions’ blood but haven’t found the right trough to collect it and prevent an unprecedented fourth successive title.
A Power victory today could alter the complexion of the series again.
PEPSI NATIONAL BASKETBAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
FINALS – GAME THREE RESULT
City Oilers 75-71 Power
TODAY AT LUGOGO 7.30pm
Power vs City Oilers
