City Oilers 76-59 KIU Titans
After the off season business, KIU Titans were tipped by many as City Oilers’ main challengers for the National Basketball League title this season.
As the game fans made their way to Lugogo for the season opener between the fairly balanced sides, one recurrent thought was they were going to get a treat having not watched league basketball for nearly five months.
After a nervy start to the game by either side characterized by poor shooting, it was the defending champions who found their groove first.
Following a square opening period, Oilers got off the blocks mid-way through the second quarter to take a 9 points lead into the halftime break.
While the Oilers stretched the lead to double figure early in the third frame, new signing Sudi Ulanga did kept them at arm’s length midway through the period. The shooting guard who piled up team high 18 points knocked down back-to-back triples and drove to the rack to pull KIU within 3 points (40-37) with four minutes to play in a quarter that ended with both sides level at 46.
MVP Kami Kabange (17 points, 6 rebounds) opened the last quarter with four free throws as Oilers slowly but steadily pulled away.
With the champions leading 57-52 and 3:37 to play Jimmy Enabu (15 points) sunk a 3 pointer that forced Hamza Nyambogo to call a time after which Oilers added five unanswered points and all was nothing but done.
Power forward, Landry Ndikumana tormented Titans all night gliding through the key and notched game high 19 points and 7 rebounds.
Samuel Agutu and Henry Malinga had 10 and 9 points respectively for KIU.
