FUBA National Basketball League
Wednesday, 14-08-2019
MTN Arena, Lugogo
-City Oilers 67-64 UCU Canons
-A1 Challenge 44-51 KIU Rangers
LUGOGO – Six-time FUBA National Basketball League winners had to do it the hard way as they defeated UCU Canons 67-64 in a closely contested encounter played at the MTN Arena on Wednesday night.
Leading by just one point with 02:03 to play in the final quarter, Mandy Juruni’s charges put up a strong defensive, restricting the log leaders to just three points whilst posting six of their own to close out the game.
The contest was close from the on-set with the scores level on four different occasions in the first quarter before Oilers edged it 18-14.
The second ended in a draw as both sides managed 18 points each to see Oilers take a four-point lead into the long break with the scoreboard reading 36-32.
Just like in the second, the third was also a tie. Oilers and UCU scored 16 points each, an indication that the fourth would be a thriller as both went for the kill.
Inside the first four minutes, Oilers raced into an 8 point lead after scoring 7 points and restricting the Canons to just three.
However, the Mukono based side bounced back to bring the game to with-in just a point after Isaiah Arter sunk a deep three with 02:03 on the clock.
However, that is as close as Nicholas Natuhereza’s side came to leading and probably winning the game as Oilers held on to win it 67-64 in the end.
This was Oilers fourth victory of the second round and with as many victories in the bag, they remain one of the two sides yet to taste defeat in the second round. The other being Warriors.
The evergreen Landry Ndikumana was once again the star of the show for Oilers, posting 21 points and picking 9 rebounds, one shy of another double double. Tony Drileba and James Okello also impressed on the night, each picking 10 boards.
For UCU, Isaiah Arter who shot 9/22 from the field, top-scored with an impressive 27 points. Substitute Titus Lual was also impressive and he picked a game-high 11 rebounds.
Natuhereza’s side still remains top of the log with a 15/2 record.
In the Women’s division, Brenda Aujat registered a double double to help her KIU Rangers side defeat A1 Challenge 51-44.
Aujat who shot 4/12 from the field managed 11 points and 16 rebounds in a contest that saw KIU only trail once, inside the first two minutes.
By the end of the first quarter, KIU led by 10 with scores reading 16-06.
KIU continued their good start, also winning the second 15-11 to take a 14 point lead into the second half.
A1 came back from the long break stronger, restricting KIU to just 8 points whilst scoring 19 of their own to ensure they trailed by just three points heading into the last 10 minutes.
However, KIU responded by winning the fourth 11-08 and in the process, won the game 51-44.
The Rangers had three players reach double figures in terms of scoring with Ines Kanyamunza scoring 19; Rachael Akinyi managed 14 while Aujat posted 11.
For A1, only Ruth Atuhaire (14) breached the 10 point barrier. Atuhaire also impressed with a game-high 10 boards.
The victory was KIU’s 5th of the second round in 8 games while A1 have now lost 4 of their 7 second-round games.
Upcoming FUBA NBL fixtures
Friday, 16-08-2019
-Ndejje Angels vs Sharing @6:30pm
-Warriors vs UCU Canons @8:30pm
