City Oilers have entered the National Basketball League playoffs in formidable form after completing one of the most dominant regular-season campaigns in recent years.
The nine-time champions closed their schedule with a 67-61 victory over Sommet BC at YMCA Court on Friday, ending the regular season with 20 wins from 22 games and 42 points. The result capped a campaign defined by consistency, depth and strong performances at both ends of the floor.
Against Sommet, the Oilers once again demonstrated their ability to grind out results, with Fayed Baale scoring 16 points while Titus Lual added 15 points and 12 rebounds to help secure the victory.
The regular season statistics underline why the Oilers are among the leading contenders for the championship. They finished with 1,587 points, the highest tally in the league, while also collecting 1,019 rebounds and 425 assists across 22 games.
Defensively, they remained equally impressive, recording 243 steals and 74 blocks while conceding just 1,261 points. Their points difference of 326 was among the best in the competition and reflected their ability to dominate games on both offense and defense.
Several players played key roles throughout the campaign. Lual emerged as one of the league’s top performers in efficiency and rebounding, while Joel Kayiira established himself among the leading rebounders and shot blockers. Point guard Joel Lukoji finished the regular season with 109 assists, highlighting his importance in orchestrating the team’s attack.
Baale also enjoyed a standout season, finishing among the league’s leading scorers with 300 points while contributing significantly in steals and assists.
Although City Oilers suffered defeats against Rezlife Saints and Namuwongo Blazers, those were the only blemishes on an otherwise outstanding campaign. The champions responded strongly after each setback and maintained their position near the summit throughout the season.
The race for the regular-season crown is not yet mathematically settled, with Namuwongo Blazers still having two games in hand and capable of matching the Oilers’ 42-point tally. Nevertheless, City Oilers have already set the benchmark with their overall performances and statistical dominance.
Meanwhile, the Women’s National Basketball League fixture between UCU Lady Canons and KCCA Leopards was postponed following UCU’s successful participation at the FASU Afro Varsity 3×3 Championship in Nigeria.
Martina Anyango, Shillah Lamunu, Sylvia Nakituuka and Zoe Atek inspired UCU to a 21-15 victory over Kenya’s USIU-Africa in the final, helping the university side complete the tournament unbeaten. The triumph secured qualification for the 2026 FISU University 3×3 World Cup in Macau.
Back home, the Lady Canons remain firmly in the title race, occupying second place on the league standings with 14 wins and only two defeats this season.
