Friday, April 26
Women: JKL Lady Dolphins Vs A1 Challenge – 6:30 PM
Men: City Oilers Vs KIU Titans, 8:30 PM
It promises to be the best game of the season as City Oilers take on KIU Titans at YMCA court in Wandegeya.
The Titans will be hoping to use last regular season’s blue prints, if they are to dethrone the six time defending champions.
The Oilers lost both regular ties against KIU Titans: Titans beat Oilers 72-57 last year on June 1 before completing the double with a 94-79 on August 3rd.
It was the second round game at YMCA which Oilers will look to forget easily: after the loss, City Oilers manager Hajji Mohammad Santur and referee Peter Onen were involved in an ugly scuffle before the two were separated as Hajji tried to show his discontent on what he regarded as ‘poor officiating’ on the night.
On the night, Michael Bwanga and Sudi Ulanga combined for 37 points, adding exquisite handles, style and substance to leave Oilers in shatters.
However, it was Oilers who had the last laugh in the season, as they beat Brian Wathum’s side in the semis playoffs. Oilers came from game one down to win 3-1 in the best of five.
Strong Start For Oilers
City Oilers won the first two opening league games for the first time in top flight and will need to capitalise on that form to gun down Titans.
The Oilers switched on a beast mode against Power before proving more merciless when they put Falcons to the sword in their second game.
Francis Chisioke Azolibe has proved to be a good addition, Ivan Muhwezi has showed glimpse of improvement while Jimmy Enabu is still Enabu we all fell in love with.
James Okello and Landry Ndikumana will, as last season, be the team’s backbone. Tonny Drilleba and Ben Komakech too, have added more value from the bench. Oilers are all set.
KIU on the other hand, have already shown how important the departed Chris Omanye was to the team, especially in that routine loss to Power when they lacked that player to take matters in his own hands when the shot is off.
Coach Brian Wathum will have to trust his shooters and master his rotation, but it’s the likes of Brian Ssentongo and the rest, who have to step up when the tricky trio of Denis Balungu, Sudi Ulanga and Michael Bwanga fail to get things going.
What they said;
KIU Titans Captain Sudi Ulanga:
We had a couple of training sessions since then and this time round we are a much better team. Its an important game for us to win because it will be a good boost.
Oilers Coach Mandy Juruni
It’s a tough game, they are one of the best four teams in the league. We expect they to come out strong after losing to Betway Power and our games against KIU are always difficult, so I expect it to be tough.
