Power nip Oilers on opening day

KAMPALA.

It is not often that a Ugandan basketball can identify a weakness with four-time defending champions City Oilers and then go ahead to make it count.

In front of a capacity crowd at the Lugogo MTN Arena on Friday night, Betway Power did that enroute to a 60-56 opening day victory over the Oilers. The Mandy Juruni-coached side which started life without influential centre Kami Kabange seemed to lack presence in the paint especially offensively against their more enthusiastic opponents they topped 4-1 in last season’s playoff finals.

“We matched them on the inside and kept on taking the ball at the post and it worked for us,” Power coach Arnold Lando said after the game.

After a cagey start from both sides Power led a low-scoring opening period 15-7 before the two teams exchanged the subsequent quarters 23-10 and 23-14.
Back-to-back three pointers from Power’s Paul Odong who finished with a game high 16 points gave his side a 48-44 lead going into the fourth.

“The win gives confidence to the players to know they can match up to the best team. But we also made many mistakes and if we corrected them we can play better basketball,” added Power captain Joseph Ikong. Whether the result has an impact on the rest of the season and for Oilers remains to be seen.
I don’t think we did too badly for a team that has not played competitive basketball for a while,” City Oilers guard Jimmy Enabu remarked.

His team led for the first time at 28-25 as the game went into the half way break on the back of Stephen Omony’s three pointer.
“We are going to build on the big guys that we have. But we tend to play a team game where we are a threat inside and outside and with time these players will be much better,” explained Oilers coach Mandy Juruni.

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