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The record National Basketball League (NBL) champions City Oilers revealed their roster ahead of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

The roster is made up of 12 players and includes four foreigners.

The four foreigners are Germaine Roebuck, William Ngor and Fallando Jones who were part of the squad during the qualifiers and James Justice Jr.

Among the new entrants is Abdulhakim Ghedi, the son of the manager. Ghedi’s size and experience will be tremendous to a side making its debut a BAL.

The other players on the roster are James Okello, Jimmy Enabu, Ivan Muhwezi and Tonny Drileba who have been with the side for a while.

New signings Edrine Walujjo, Fayed Bbaale and Titus Lual have put up a great show in the local league hence earning themselves an entry on the roaster.

The City Oilers will be competing in the Nile Conference alongside SLAC (Guinea), CFV Beria (Mozambique), Petro De Luanda (Angola), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) and Al Ahly (Egypt).

They will tussle it out in Cairo, Egypt starting April 26 until May 6 for a place in the playoffs that will be played at. the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda late in May.

City Oilers Roaster

UCU Canons registered a 57-47 victory against JKL Dolphins in the National Basketball League at MTN Arena Lugogo on Wednesday.

It was the second win for the Mukono-based side who had only registered one win in the last four outings.

UCU hard a great start to the game making a run of 15-5 with 1:44 to play in the first quarter. The edge gave them a lead of 16-5 at the end of the quarter.

Thanks to the pressure defense from the Dolphins, they limited the damage allowing UCU to score only 13 as they gathered 23 in the second quarter.

By half time, it was a three point game (31-28) and it was game on, giving either side a chance to keep believing.

However, JKL were a shadow of themselves as they failed to bring the fight in the second half of the duel. They only managed seven points in the third quarter and six in the foruth quarter.

At full time, it was 57-41 and JKL’s search for a second win of the season extends further.

Ibanda Lwabaga and Kevin Kasobya scored in double figures for UCU, carding 14 and 13 respectively while Peter Sifuma and Rogers Dauna also registered 15 and 10 rebounds.

On the other hand, Denis Tom Omar had 12 points while Derrick Katumba manned the paint with 18 rebounds.

The victory keeps UCU in eighth position while JKL are 10th on the 12-teamed log.

Results | Wednesday April 19

City Oilers hung on to survive a scare as they edged Namuwongo Blazers 57-51 in the National Basketball League (NBL) on Friday night at MTN Arena, Lugogo.

It was a live wire game that kept the fans on the edge of their sits, especially in the second half.

The Oilers got off the blocks early and went on a 7-2 run before taking a 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Oilers had answers each time the Blazers tried to rally. Peter Cheng’s step-back jump shot and Syrus Kiviiri’s driving layup narrowed the margin to 17-14.

But Ruai Luak and Micheal Ngut steered the defending champions to ensure they head into the break with a 41-21 lead.

After recess, Blazers turned up to the party narrowing the lead to 47-42. Mady Juruni’s side only scored six baskets in the third quarter.

However, the Oilers improved in the fourth quarter hence giving the fully packed arena a thrilling game.

Blazers moved within two points (53-51) with 25 seconds on the clock but failed to tame Ruai who was sent to the line twice and converted three before making a layup at the death.

Ruai scored a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds while Micheal Ngut added 16 points.

Cheng and Micheal Makiadi scored 19 and 14 respectively for the Blazers while Geoffrey Sori failed to produce a single basket.

It was the second loss of the campaign for Steven Nyeko’s troops who have also won three.

While the Oilers have won all their nine games played this season.

Friday Results

Fixtures | Friday, April 14

On-form City Oilers will take on Namuwongo Blazers in the rematch of last year’s NBL finals at MTN Arena, Lugogo.

Nam Blazers put up a thrilling show as they pushed City Oilers in a last-game decider on who carries all the bragging rights.

However much, City Oilers clinched their eighth title in a row, Nam Blazers emptied their toolbox putting everything on the line hence attracting a mammoth crowd behind them.

Since then, both sides have immensely changed. Ahead of BAL, the defending champions have greatly improved and are nearly unplayable.

While Nam Blazers have moved many steps behind not coming any close to what they were in the previous campaign.

The Oilers improved their roaster with the introduction of Titus Lual, Fayed Bbaale and Micheal Ngut who have created more options for the team.

While the Blazers lost their best players, David Deng, Amisi Saidi and Ariel Okall who were so instrumental last year.

However, they signed Peter Cheng, Geoffrey Soro and Micheal Makiadi who have so far looked promising though hardly tick all boxes.

Last year, Nam Blazers beat City Oilers in both games of the regular season and they will have a chance to end the unbeaten streak of a rival.

City Oilers have so far won all their eight games played while Nam Blazers have won three and lost once in the four games played.

Nam Blazers will miss the services of captain Paul Odong (suspended) and Carlos Ochi while City Oilers will not be with Fayed Bbaale due to an injury.

Wednesday, April 12 | Results 

D-Mark Power suffered the third loss of the campaign after giving UPDF Tomahawks a 66-62 victory in the National Basketball League at Lugogo.

It was UPDF’s second win in five games. The first victory came against Kampala Rockets in their opening game.

UPDF had their foot in front right from on set winning the first quarter by a point (17-16). The second quarter was more like the first as both teams entered the locker rooms separated by a two-point gap (32-30).

In the third quarter, Andrew Gang extended the lead with an easy layup before Power replied through Guellord Mobanza who knocked a three-point jump shot. By the end, Power trailed by four

In the final quarter, the boys in white staged their best performance and leveled 62-62 with 25 seconds after a big three-point shot by Mobanza before Jonathan Egau created the difference with back-to-back layups.

Power tried to put up a great fight registering 69 rebounds against 47 but still faced away possession through 24 turnovers again 18.

UPDF benefited from their bench yielding 31 points while Power harvested only 24.

Mobanza scored the highest game mark with 29 points and he was the only player of Power in double digits because it’s Isaac Afidra who came closest with nine.

Egau led the scoring card of UPDF with 15 points. Andrew Gang and Arthur Wanyoto also scored 13 and 10 respectively.

In the ladies’ affair, UCU Lady Cardinals registered their fourth win, beating Angels 73-62. The victory took them on top of the log ahead of JKL Lady Dolphins who have a game in hand.

Fixtures | Friday, April 14 

National Basketball League defending champions City Oilers continued their hot streak to start the 2023 season, registering their eighth consecutive win after beating Our Savior.

Despite starting slow and being matched by Our Savior in the opening quarter, the Oilers ran away 88-51 victors at the MTN Arena in Lugogo on Monday night.

Our Savior trailed 18-15 after the first quarter but after, Mandy Juruni’s charges were out of sight as they won the next three quarters 24-14, 28-9 and 18-13.

As usual, Oilers had multiple players scoring in double figures led by Luak Ruai (19. points), player of the game Titus Lual contributed 17, Michael Ngut 14, and Jimmy Enabu 10.

Henry Ssebagala and Malual Dier scored 13 and 11 points respectively for Our Saviour who suffered their third loss in four games. Their only win of the season thus far came against Rez Life Saints.

Results | Monday, April 10

Fixtures | Wednesday, April 12

KIU Basketball head coach Roger Serunyigo has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

The decision was made on the back of the 70-49 defeat to JKL Lady Dolphins on Friday which made it two losses in three games to start the season.

“The KIU Basketball Management and Coach Roger Serunyigo have today Saturday 8th April 2023 agreed that he steps down as the KIU Rangers Coach.

“The decision was taken by mutual consent that for the good of the club the coach steps down forthwith. We thank him for the years he has been with KIU Rangers and wish him all the best,” the club said in a statement.

KIU Titans veteran forward Joseph Chuma who has also been overseeing some training sessions will charge of Rangers in an interim capacity.

“In the meantime coach Joseph Chuma will handle the team on an interim basis as we find a substantial coach to take over.”

Results | Wednesday, March 29 (MTN Arena, Lugogo)

Fixtures | Friday, March 31 (MTN Arena, Lugogo)

Since joining the National Basketball League in 2013, City Oilers have hardly hit the ground running at the start of the season.

This year is a bit different though. The eight-time NBL champions are already in cruise and control as they have registered four wins in as many games.

The latest was an 88-55 win over Rez Life Saints on Wednesday night at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

The addition of point guard Fayed Baale and forward Titus Lual to the team has made a massive difference as the pair that played with the team during the BAL Qualifiers before officially joining has taken issues into their own hands.

Baale (19) and Lual (18) combined for 37 points with the latter being named player of the game as he pulled down 15 rebounds while the point guard dished out 5 assists.

Luak Ruai (12), Michael Ngut (11) and Jimmy Enabu (10) also scored in double digits for Oilers (4-0).

Thok Timothy scored a team-high 13 points and picked 11 rebounds for Rez Life.

Michael Otieno and Benjamin Kawuma contributed 12 and 10 points respectively for the Saints (0-2) who were careless in possession turning over the ball 30 times.

Power Basketball Club bounced back from the loss to City Oilers with a 68-59 win over Ndejje University Angels on Sunday evening at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

It was a closely contested game against Ndejje as Power led by just 3 points heading into the final quarter. They capitalised on a 9-3 run in the final bend to close out the game.

Samad Imran led Power (2-1) with a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds while Isaac Afidra who played all forty minutes contributed eight points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists.

Elvis Mutebi had 11 points, Elvis Ssentongo added 10 points and 8 assists while Yat Tiem Ruot Tut scored nine points and 11 rebounds.

James Obrack (16), Jonathan Oketch (12) and Joseph Kumbai (11) scored in double digits for the Angels (2-1) who suffered their first loss of the season.

Sunday Results

Last year’s National Basketball League finalists Namuwongo Blazers started the 2023 season with a 71-62 victory over JKL Dolphins on Saturday at YMCA.

The new-look Blazers got contributions from newcomers with Peter Cheng (16), Geoffrey Soro (13) and Michael Makiadi (10) scoring in double digits. Syrus Kiviiri, returning from a long injury layoff,  had 11 points.

Nam Blazers were 14-10 down after the first quarter but Stephen Nyeko’s side who were cheered on by a sizeable crowd regained their mojo and were up by four at halftime and slowly pulled away for the win.

Denis Tom Omara had 15 points, Bienfait Lola and Martin Janvier added 13 and 11 points respectively in a losing effort for JKL.

In the women’s division, JT Jaguars continued from where they left off in the second division last year, beating Nkumba Lady Marines 75-24.

The Jaguars didn’t break any sweat to win by 51 points as they did not go through their gears but managed to limit Nkumba to below double digits in every quarter.

Sarah Ageno, playing in the NBL for the first time since 2019, had a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds, Zainah Lokwameri filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, and Marion Esther, facing off her former side, contributed 10 points.

Melissa Kyazze and Catherine Nakimuli top scored for Nkumba with 9 and 6 points respectively

Results | Saturday, March 25

Fixtures | Sunday, March 26 (MTN Arena)