KIU seek to salvage series against rejuvenated Oilers

Elimination game: For KIU guard Sudi Ulanga and his teammates, tonight is a do-or-die showdown with City Oilers. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

KAMPALA. City Oilers have been involved in 16 play-off series since they first featured in the National Basketball League post-season games in 2013. But as their story of five straight titles reads, the Oilers have not lost any. That is the daunting record KIU Titans must encounter if they are to become the first team to clinch a Tusker Lite sponsored play-off series win against the Oilers.
To achieve the feat, the Kansanga-based side needs to win two straight games starting with today’s game four at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
They fell to a 2-1 deficit following Tuesday’s 71-67 result having won the opening game 83-61 last Friday. That seems like a long time now.
The Titans can however draw inspiration from that result that is already an improvement from last season’s play-off final series in which they were swept 4-0 by the Oilers.
“We were just not as aggressive in the final two quarters,” KIU coach Brian Wathum said after the game two loss. While he was able to find diagnose the problem, he must now be able to coax the same aggressiveness and belief from his side.
This followed the draining game three loss decided after a turnover on the final play of the game.
City Oilers on the other hand will now approach the game with more confidence knowing that victory today will send them to a sixth straight final.
Josh Johnson should particularly be lifted by his performances over the last two games with contributions at both ends of the floor that include 17 and 11 points respectively.