City Oilers coach Tendo warns regular season record means little in playoffs

National Basketball League

Friday

Women
Lady Canons v Leopards (Postponed)

Men
Oilers 67 Sommet 61

City Oilers coach Andrew Tendo believes his team's impressive regular season record will count for little if they fail to deliver when the National Basketball League playoffs begin.

The record champions completed their regular season campaign with a hard-fought 67-61 victory over Sommet BC at YMCA Court on Friday, finishing with 20 wins from 22 games and 42 points.

"We have had a good regular season and achieved many of our targets, but playoff basketball is different. What matters now is how we respond when the pressure becomes even bigger," Tendo said.

Fayed Baale led City Oilers with 16 points, while Titus Lual contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds as the champions found a way to close out the contest.

"Sommet pushed us throughout the game and made us work for every possession. I was pleased with the way the players stayed composed in the closing minutes," he said.

Yet Tendo admitted the Oilers were not always convincing despite their record. "At some point this season we were winning but I wasn't happy with the way we were winning, especially against some of the lower teams. The losses came and it was a wake-up call."

The defeats came against Rezlife Saints and Namuwongo Blazers, the only sides to beat City Oilers during the regular season.

The Oilers scored 1,587 points, narrowly ahead of Namuwongo Blazers (1,583 points from 20 games, with two matches remaining). City Oilers recorded 1,019 rebounds and 425 assists, while conceding only 1,261 points for a points difference of 326.

Lual finished among league leaders in efficiency and rebounding, Joel Kayiira ranked among top rebounders and shot blockers, Joel Lukoji ended with 109 assists, and Baale finished among leading scorers with 300 points.

"Different players have stepped up at different moments, and that depth has been important for us," Tendo said.

Despite sitting top of the standings with 42 points, City Oilers are still waiting to know if they will officially finish first. Namuwongo Blazers are second with 38 points from 20 games and two fixtures remaining. Should they win both, they would also finish on 42 points.

Still, Tendo insisted the regular season will count for little once the playoffs begin.

"Playoff basketball is completely different. We must defend better, limit turnovers, execute consistently and stay mentally locked in. Finishing top is good, but our objective is to win the championship."

Women's league update

Meanwhile, the Women's National Basketball League fixture between UCU Lady Canons and KCCA Leopards was postponed following UCU's triumph at the FASU Afro Varsity 3x3 Championship in Nigeria.

Martina Anyango, Shillah Lamunu, Sylvia Nakituuka and Zoe Atek guided UCU to a 21-15 victory over Kenya's USIU-Africa in the final, completing the tournament unbeaten. The triumph secured UCU qualification for the 2026 FISU University 3x3 World Cup in Macau. Domestically, the Lady Canons sit second in the league standings with 14 wins and two defeats.