NBL: City Oilers Overpower KIU Titans In Thriller

City Oilers Landry Ndikumana was named Man of the match. FUBA photo

Friday, April 26
*Men: City Oilers 83-79 KIU Titans
(19-17, 20-16, 20-18, 24-28)

*Women: JKL Lady Dolphins 70-42 A1 Challenge
(12-9, 19-8, 22-14, 17-11)

City Oilers managed to outlast KIU Titans 83-79 in a league game played at a sale out YMCA Court in Wandegeya.

The victory will be seen as revenge well executed for the Oilers as KIU Titans won both games when these sides met in last year’s regular season.

Landry Ndikumana and James Okello, MVPs for regular and finals respectively, dropped 15 points each to hand Oilers a deserved win.

The six time defending champions managed to stop KIU Titans’ late surge that saw Brian Wathum’s side win the fourth quarter 28-24, when the damage had already been caused.

Oilers have now won their three opening league games. They beat Betway Power in the opener before tearing Falcons apart.

Only JKL Dolphins, UCU Canons, Warriors and Ndejje Angels still pose a slight threat among Oilers first round games.

The Titans who will blame their rotation, had Denis Balungu score a game high 23 points, Michael Bwanga and Collin Kasujja scored 16 and 12 points respectively, but all in vain.

KIU who beat Kampala University in the opener, has now lost two games in a row. The side lost to Betway Power last Friday.

City Oilers Defying Odds

City Oilers are not used to starting this strong. And if we are to go with this performance, they may be a more difficult force to stop.

Oilers shot 9-16 from the field in the first quarter to take a 19-17 lead, with Landry scoring six points. Mandy Juruni’s side never looked back as they led the game from start to finish.

The side shot well and defended better, and it is going to be difficult for any team to stop them this season.

Titans, last year’s semifinalists will have themselves to blame at one point after fluffing on the line, missing a whooping 18 free throws, six coming in a row.

Sudi Ulanga had one of his worst nights, shooting 0-3 from the field, to collect just one point behind a huge vocal presence from the KIU fans.

The Titans will have another big test when they take on Warriors on May 1 as City Oilers are expected to make light work of Kampala University in their next engagement.

Top performers

Most Points

  1. Denis Balungu (KIU) – 23
  2. Michael Bwanga (KIU) – 16
  3. Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) – 15

Most Rebounds

  1. James Okello (Oilers) – 11
  2. Denis Balungu (KIU) – 8
  3. Tony Drilleba (Oilers) – 8

Most Assists

  1. Tony Drilleba (Oilers) – 8
  2. Michael Bwanga (KIU) – 3
  3. Jimmy Enabu (Oilers) – 3

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