National Basketball League
Friday
Men
- Oilers 64 JT 64
- KIU 59 Living Stone 71
- KCCA 60 Sommet 55
Women
- Magic Stormers 48 JKL 65
- Angels 61 Nkumba 59
The City Oilers stumbled out of the gate, suffering their second consecutive loss to start the season.
After a heartbreaking 80-81 defeat to the Namuwongo Blazers in their opener, the Oilers were eager to rebound against the JT Jaguars on Friday night at Lugogo.
However, they fell short once again, succumbing to a 74-64 loss that left them reeling with a 0-2 record
Although injuries to key players Titus Odeke, Fayed Bbale, and captain Ivan Muhwezi undoubtedly hindered the Oilers, their lackluster performance was surprising given their status as defending champions.
The usual intensity and work ethic that define the Oilers were conspicuously absent, allowing the Jaguars to capitalize on their potent offense. In a historic upset, the Jaguars claimed their first-ever victory over the ten-time champion City Oilers.
Like hungry caterpillars devouring their prey, the Jaguars pounced on the lead, taking an 18-14 advantage in the first quarter, and maintained their momentum throughout the game. The Jaguars’ stifling defense proved particularly effective in the third quarter, where they held the Oilers to a 18-18 tie, ultimately paving the way for their hard-fought victory.
Rogers Dauna spearheaded the Oilers’ offense with 16 points, supported by Joseph Chuma and Edgar Munaaba, who chipped in 12 points apiece.
The Jaguars’ Elijah Adakun paced the Kira based side with 14 points, while Fadhili Chuma and Mark Were provided valuable support with 11 points each, helping their team maintain a firm grip on the lead until the final buzzer.
The Jaguars’ head coach Sudi Ulanga heaped praise on his team for stepping up to the challenge and delivering a strong performance against a formidable opponent.
“We set the tone early and defended well. City Oilers had 5 points in 8 minutes which was a plus for us”
“My take is doing the right things consistently and for the most part today, we kept doing the right things and we managed to get the win” noted Ulanga.
The question is, will the Oiler find the consistency and momentum needed to succeed along the way?
