City Oilers 70-58 UCU Canons (Canons lead series 2-1)
KCCA Leopards 48-34 A1 Challenge (Leopards win series 3-0)
The question has always been will the City Oilers recover not whether they can actually recover. It got answered as the defending champions pulled one back on UCU Canons Friday night at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.
It was the back court pair of Ben Komakech and Jimmy Enabu that ran riot right from tip off not just to keep City Oilers in the lead through out the game but also in the contest. The guards combined for 36 points and 14 assists. Komakech notched game and playoffs high 20 points and dished out 7 assists while Enabu had 16 and 7.
After scoring 27 and 23 in the opening games, Kami Kabange took the scoring back seat – making the fewest attempts from the floor (7) in the series for 4 points but grabbed game high 12 rebounds as Oilers cleaned UCU on the glass with a 45-36 rebounding advantage.
“We needed to rebound and we needed to score. We had not done them in the first two games and we did that” City Oilers coach, Mandy Juruni said.
Meanwhile, UCU canons who chased the game for forty minutes couldn’t catch up as the Oilers played a somewhat solid pressurizing defense through out the game that limited Suudi Ulanga who had scored atleast 21 points in the first two games to 11 points on a 3-for-17 from the field in 33 minutes.
Ivan Lumanyika Had team high 14 points for the Canons and Brian Namake contributed 15 points, 5 boards and made 5 assists
In the women’s division, KCCA Leopards also made the finals after putting away A1’s challenge. Jackie Basemera had game high 12 points and Muhayimina Namuwaya logged on 10 points to go with 11 boards as Leopards made their fourth straight final. Claire Lamunu contributed 8 points and picked 10 rebounds.
Vickie Ondiso had 10 points and 12 rebounds for A1 who have not made the championship round since loosing four straight finals with the most recent coming in 2010. Sylvia Nakazibwe chipped in with 9 for A1.
The KCCA Leopards will face the UCU Lady Canons in the finals for a fourth straight year. The Lady Canons saw off Magic Stormers 2-1.
