Odds against Power as Oilers edge closer to final
Betway Power players strategise during game two of the National Basketball League loss again defending champions City Oilers. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
KAMPALA- Betway Power need to win three straight games starting with today’s game three of the best-of-five semifinal against City Oilers if they are to reach this season’s National Basketball League final.
To achieve that feat, they will attempt to overcome an obstacle they have failed to go past for four seasons and what no team has done since City Oilers earned promotion.
That is to defeat the four-time champions in a playoff series.
Basing on the past two games in their best of five semifinal series, that looks highly unlikely after Oilers raced into a 2-0 series lead with a commanding 77-59 win at Lugogo on Sunday evening.
“There are things we cannot continue doing like allowing them uncontested shots,” Power coach Arnold Lando bemoaned.
The Oilers outrebounded Power again 60-53 with Landry Ndikumana picking a game high 17 rebounds to accompany his 12 points to compound Lando’s frustrations.
“We are giving them many second chance points yet we have bigger players and that must change,” he added.
But like Oilers showed on Sunday, such is the depth of their roster that anyone can hurt Power.
“It tells you what this team is all about. We are so deep so that you don’t know who will have a good night. We have players who have been in big moments,” City Oilers coach Mandy Juruni remarked.
Jimmy Enabu and Ben Komakech had previously put up below par performances by their high standards but stepped up on Sunday to leave Power needing to win three straight games a tally they have accumulated over four years.
Jimmy Enabu top scored with 20 points while Komakech also a former Power player added 13.
“Koma had a fantastic night. We had a one on one, we know he’s healthy and know he’s a big time player we just needed to talk to him to be more aggressive and play his game,” Juruni explained.
