UCU self-destruct to leave rampant Oilers on the brink

Eyes on the rim. James Okello of City Oilers aims at the basket during the Fuba league game against UCU Canons which City Oilers won making 3-1 at the MTN Arena, Lugogo. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA.

For their part in the 2015 final and having led 2-0 in the best-of-five semifinal playoffs in 2014, UCU Canons is the team to have run City Oilers closest in the Tusker-Lite-sponsored National Basketball League playoffs.
Only Falcons in 2013 come close having managed to stretch the now six-time champions to seven games en-route to their first title.

On Wednesday, UCU Canons will attempt to at least show similar resilience having shown little of it as the Oilers took a commanding 3-1 series lead on Friday evening that leaves them just one game away from a seventh consecutive crown.
The Oilers prevailed 63-57 in a game in which their experienced roster featuring a combined four NBL finals and Zone V MVP’s showed against a University side for whom only Fadhili Chuma can boast more than three years league experience.
As UCU continuously turned over the ball, the Oilers pounced taking an 18-12 first quarter lead that they never relinquished.

Jimmy Enabu dropped a game high 23 points and James Okello pounded his way to 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Oilers who also had to endure a power outage.
And with UCU going 3 for 17 from three point range it was always going to be difficult to level the series despite David D-kong Deng’s team high 16 points and Chuma and Fayed Baale adding 11 and 10 points respectively.

NBL playoff finals
GAME FOUR RESULT
City Oilers 63-57 UCU Canons
(Oilers lead best-of-seven series 3-1)