Oilers set to oil KIU

By Charles Mutebi

Castle Lite NBL Playoffs

Men: KIU v City Oil

Women: A1 v Rangers

AROUND this time last year, City Oil were heading to FUBA Men’s Division 2 playoffs, which they went on to win and gain promotion to the top National Basketball League (NBL).

Today at Lugogo, the Oilers are greasing their palms as they open their maiden account in the NBL Playoffs with Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series against the KIU Titans.

“We appreciate the magnitude of what we have achieved but it is not the ultimate achievement,” City Oil captain Andrew Tendo told New Vision Sport yesterday.

“It is only a start of the series of achievements that we want to accomplish.”

Rarely have the FUBA Playoffs been so anticipated and it’s a testament to how fast City Oil have come that they should find themselves playing on the opening night of the historical 2013 postseason. 

“We are grateful for being here but it is not where we want to end,” explained Tendo, one of only two players with six national championships.

City Oil is just three years old but here they are, chasing the highest honour in Ugandan basketball. Of course, chasing is one thing and capturing is another and KIU are well able to end City Oil’s title dreams at the fi rst hurdle.

KIU swept City Oil in the regular season and so should start as marginal favourites.

Marginal because the two previous meetings were very closely matched and secondly, KIU will be without the injured Edwin Kateregga.

In the ladies NBL Playoffs, A1 Challenge take on the KIU Rangers in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals.

A1 are seen by some as dark horses for the title.