Sommet Titans sink 10 threes to dismantle City Oilers in playoff opener

Fataki Nyembo went 75% on the three-point line. Kasereka Tembo was 50%. Peter Cheng settled for a lowly 40%.

Together, the trio nailed all 10 of the Sommet Titans’ three pointers as the National Basketball League debutants soared to a historic Game 1 victory over the City Oilers in their best-of-five semi-final on Tuesday at Lugogo.

Cheng and Nyembo finished with 18 points apiece for Sommet, while Tembo added 15 points in a thrilling contest totally decided on the offensive end.

Skipper Mark Ngobi added 17 points for the Spartans, who had Tembo and Cheng contribute 12 assists and 15 rebounds respectively.

The Oilers were led by Kurt Wegscheider with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Chad Bowie added 13. Fayed Bbaale and Joseph Chuma both scored 11 for the record 10-time champions, whose defence looks inadequate for another title run.

The Oilers were tied 44-44 with Sommet at halftime but flung the gates wide open in the second half, conceding another 42 points.

Game 1 of the second semi-final series between the Namuwongo Blazers and UCU Canons was a lot stingier. Namuwongo prevailed 68-60 after a hard-fought contest that had 50 free throws.

Ivan Muhwezi came off the bench to finish with a team-high 14 points for the Blazers, with Joel Lukoji and Anthony Chukwurah adding 12 and 10 points respectively.

Joel Kayira had a game-high 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Canons, who were outscored 27-16 in the first quarter, but won the next two quarters 33-29. Jimmy Otim added 13 for UCU, who, like the Oilers, will attempt to level the series on Friday. 

National Basketball League playoffs

Best-of-five semifinals

Results

Namuwongo 68 UCU 60

(Namuwongo lead 1-0)

Sommet 86 Oilers 74

(Sommet lead 1-0)

Game 2: Friday, Lugogo