National Basketball League
Best-of-five playoff semifinals:
Game 2
Friday
UCU Canons v Nam Blazers – 7pm
Sommet v City Oilers – 9pm
Sommet’s fairytale debut season in the National Basketball League continues to gather momentum as they look to tighten their grip on the semifinal series against eight-time champions City Oilers tonight at Lugogo.
Having stunned the defending champions 86-74 in Game One, Sommet enter the second clash brimming with belief and the confidence of a team playing without fear. Their strength lies in balance — a well-spread offense that saw five players hit double figures in the opener. Nyembo Fataki and Peter Cheng powered the charge with 18 points apiece, while Mark Ngobi, Kasereka Tembo, and John Focus Teko ensured the Oilers’ defense was constantly stretched.
The Oilers, on the other hand, suddenly find themselves in uncharted territory. Long accustomed to dictating playoff series, they now face the pressure of chasing. Their poor shooting in Game One, particularly from long range, left them exposed, and with Edgar Munaaba still sidelined by injury, head coach Andrew Tendo will demand sharper execution. New signings Chad Bowie and Kurt Curry Wegscheider showed promise with a combined 32 points, but their effort wasn’t enough to mask the struggles of other key players.
If the Oilers are to level the series, they must rediscover their trademark ruthlessness and composure under pressure. For Sommet, the challenge is to prove that their opening win was no fluke — and that even the most dominant dynasty in Ugandan basketball can be unsettled by a fearless newcomer.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal series also resumes tonight, with Nam Blazers aiming to build on their 1-0 advantage over UCU Canons.
