UCU self-destruct to leave rampant Oilers on the brink
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)