NBL Preview: City Oilers determined to end UCU's resolve and win 7th title

Jan 17, 2020

UCU came into Game 5 with the axe hanging over their heads and many expecting it to drop but the university outfit battled the champions, returning to the tactical and defensive tightness that brought them so much success this season.

 

National Basketball League Finals

Game 5 result

UCU 54 Oilers 52 (O.T)

Today @ Lugogo

Game 6

UCU v Oilers

Young and often reckless the UCU Canons may be. But quitters they are not.

Game 5 of the National Basketball League (NBL) Finals yesterday at Lugogo asked everything of Nick Natuhereza's side but they responded, eking out a 54-52 win over the City Oilers in overtime to take the best-of-seven series to Game 6.

That is due today at Lugogo and obviously there will be fewer predictions about how it will go now that UCU have drawn second blood from the reigning six-time champions.

  anons adhil huma right blocks ilers ames kello during game5 at ugogo huma was man of the match as  pulled a game back in the best of seven series hoto by ichael subuga UCU Canons' Fadhil Chuma (right) blocks Oilers' James Okello during game-5 at Lugogo. Chuma was man of the match as UCU pulled a game back in the best of seven series. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

UCU came into Game 5 with the axe hanging over their heads and many expecting it to drop but the university outfit battled the champions, returning to the tactical and defensive tightness that brought them so much success this season.

Gone were the childish turnovers and the needless remonstrating with officials, at least from the players. And the result was a solid display that restricted the Oilers potent frontcourt duo of Landry Ndikumana and James Okello to 16 and 12 points respectively.

 ity ilers osh ohnson left drives past  anons ayed baale during gamefour of the finals at ugogo an 10 2020 hoto by ichael subuga City Oilers Josh Johnson (left) drives past UCU Canons Fayed Bbaale during game-four of the finals at Lugogo, Jan 10 2020. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

In the incredibly low-scoring but emotionally gripping affair, both teams finished an abysmal 20-for-77 from the field. Not that UCU, who were led by David Kongor with 20 points and 15 rebounds, will bother much about that.

Fadhili Chuma, part of the UCU team that pushed the Oilers to Game 7 in the 2015 Finals, snatched 13 points and 11 rebounds, rattling the rim with a roof-raising dunk in the third quarter off a beautiful pick-and-roll with the prodigious Fayed Bbaale.

 ity ilers ames kello center is blocked by the  defense during game four of the finals hoto by ichael subuga City Oilers' James Okello (center) is blocked by the UCU defense during game four of the finals. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

The Oilers got 11 points from Jimmy Enabu, who drained the fade-away two-pointer that sent the game to overtime but missed a free throw with six seconds left in overtime that would have tied the game.

All this means is a delicately poised Game 6 that could see UCU push the series to an unprecedented decider.

  anons fans celebrate after their team pulled a game back against the ity ilers in the best of seven series at ugogo anuary 15 2020 hoto by ichael subuga UCU Canons' fans celebrate after their team pulled a game back against the City Oilers in the best of seven series at Lugogo, January 15 2020. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

 

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