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The highly anticipated rematch of the 2022 National Basketball League finals between the City Oilers and the Namuwongo Blazers is set to take place on Friday at the MTN Lugogo Arena
The highly anticipated rematch of the 2022 National Basketball League finals between the City Oilers and the Namuwongo Blazers is set to take place on Friday at the MTN Lugogo Arena.
The previous finals series was closely contested for, with the outcome decided on the final possession, as Oilers cemented their place in NBL folklore.
Since the finals, both teams have undergone some changes. The City Oilers are gearing up to debut in the Basketball Africa League later this month.
Oilers have started the season with a bang, winning all eight of their games so far, thanks to the addition of Titus Lual and Fayed Bbaale from the UCU Canons.
Lual emphasised the importance of finishing their stretch of games with wins, heading to the Basketball Africa League with confidence and preparation. "It's important we finish our stretch of games with wins and therefore head to the competition well-prepared and confident,” Lual told Pulse Sports.
He has been a dominant force on the court, leading the league in points (129), rebounds (91), and blocks (14), while Bbaale started the season strong before picking up a muscle injury.
Despite Bbaale’s absence, other players have stepped up, including Ruai Luak, who has led the game in scoring in his last two appearances with 22 and 19 points, respectively.
The Oilers have also demonstrated their ability to share the ball around, with Jimmy Enabu leading the league in assists (28), followed closely by Edrine Walujjo (19) and Okello James (18).
The Namuwongo Blazers, on the other hand, lost three of their starters from the finals series - Saidi Amisi, Alan Kasujja, and Dekong Deng - in the off-season.
However, they have started the new season with a 3-1 record and playing better as a team.
According to Peter Cheng who is averaging a double-double (20/11), the team has been working hard to improve their chemistry and fill the void left by their departed teammates. "We have been working on our chemistry, which has been great. Losing some of our starters was a big blow, but we have players who can step up and fill the void,” Cheng told this website.
Michael Makuidi, Geoffrey Soro and Cheng have stepped up to share the offensive and defensive load, heavily contributing to the Blazers' winning record this season.
The Blazers have won two of their last three meetings with the Oilers, with their most recent encounter being a Game seven victory, 66-64 for the Oilers.
As the two teams prepare to face off once again, it remains to be seen if the defending champions can continue their winning streak or if the Blazers will pull off another upset.
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