NBL Playoffs (YMCA):
UCU Lady Canons vs. A1 Challenge – 6pm
City Oilers vs. UCU Canons – 8pm
Weather permitting, basketball fans will be treated to yet another round of thrilling basketball action Friday evening when three time champions City Oilers take on rivals UCU Canons in the first men’s semifinal of the Pepsi National Basketball League Playoffs.
The weather has already played a part in this year’s post-season, forcing the postponement of the Power-Our Savior quarterfinal decider on Wednesday.
The two sides that played out all the seven games of the final last year take to the floor at an earlier stage with Oilers targeting their fourth straight final while the Canons, in search of their first title, are aiming for a return to the finals having made their maiden appearance last year.
“They are not an easy team to play against and all our games have been close,” Oilers guard Daniel Jjuko revealed to Kawowo Sports after UCU’s win over Pemba Warriors in the decisive game on Sunday.
City Oilers got the better of the university side in two regular season games but while they have the personnel capable of dismantling anyone in the league, the wins were less than convincing in both rounds.
The Mukono outfit had themselves to blame in the final meeting between the two sides as they failed to kill the game off in the final minute.
UCU’s zone defence has over the years troubled opponents and will remain as their main weapon of survival in the series.
Oilers eased past UPDF Tomahawks while UCU only won their series with a Brian Namake buzzer beater in the decisive game.
“They (Oilers) are a good team but our performances show that we can compete with anyone,” shooting guard Steve Wundi told this website ahead of the clash.
Facts:
-City Oilers has never lost a series to UCU Canons
-UCU Canons have never lost a series without playing a decisive game
-City Oilers have won the last three meetings between the two sides
-City Oilers were seed 1 from the regular season with a 19-3 record
-UCU finished 5th on the log with a 15-7 record
-City Oilers have already won the Zone V Clubs Championship and will feature at the Afro basket Clubs championship in December
-UCU Canons are preparing for the Eastern Africa University Games to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in December.