Basketball Africa League

Bangui SC 101 City Oilers 88

Al Ahly 98 Al Ahly Libya 86

The City Oilers slumped to the bottom of the Nile Conference after another inconsistent display ended in a second straight Basketball Africa League (BAL) defeat yesterday at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex.

The final score read Bangui SC 101 City Oilers 88, the diagnosis read Ugandan champions in worrying condition.

As the Oilers walked off the court distraught, Francois Engyengue’s Bangui basked in the delight of a historic victory. The BAL debutants, humbled the day before by Al Ahly Libya, cashed in on their first-ever BAL win, doing so with plenty of panache.

Youngster Thierry Darlan snatched a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Evans Ganapamo drained 19 points for champions of the Central African Republic, who took control of the contest with a 27-17 second quarter. Fula Rolly added 19, while Emeka Nwabuzor and skipper Jimmy Djimrabaye connected for 13 points apiece.

The Oilers, who won the first quarter 26-23 and looked like they were in a state to bounce back, were led by youngster Khaman Maluach with a game-high 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Dane Miller added 13. Patrick Rembert and Mohammed Bashir scored 12 and Randy Culpepper made 10 points for the Oilers, who trailed 65-55 with 5:39 played in the third quarter before cutting it to 75-70 by the end of the period.

Bangui stepped up the intensity in the final quarter, going on a 16-7 run that helped put the game to bed.

“I think we could have done a much better job at being consistent and keeping our physicality and intensity,” said Oilers coach Karim Nesba.

“I think we started off the game very well,” said Maluach “We were playing good defence and handling our coverages, but we went loose and put them in the bonus and they were shooting their free throws.”

After two rounds, the Oilers are the only winless team in the conference, with leaders Al Ahly unbeaten and Al Ahly Libya and Banguai second and third respectively with one win apiece. The two teams secure qualification for the playoffs.

For the Oilers, the margin for error is slimmer now, and the pressure is higher.