NBL Finals – Landry Ndikumana scored the game high 30 points together with 7 boards as the defending Champion City Oilers took charge of the NBL Finals series (2-1) with a rather assertive 79-69 game three dub over the UCU Canons. Oilers went on the early offensive in game three out-scoring the Canons 18-9 in 1Q. Joas Maheta’s long three at the halftime buzzer only ensured that the Canons were within 10 points , 34-24 while going into the long break.
The Canons’ offence picked up in the second half where they scored a total of 45 points ; outscoring the Oilers 22-17 in 3Q but there was little to salvage because Oilers scored as many points (45points) in the second half outscoring the Canons 28-23 in 4Q. The Canons’ chances of a late resurgence were crippled by having the foul flag up within 2 minutes of 4Q.
Landry Ndikumana who shot 11 of 17 on the night including 5 of 10 on the three has been the X-factor for the Oilers in their two wins. He is now averaging 23.3 pts and 6.7 rebs in the finals thus far. When UCU won game one, Landry played a lot in the blocks only affording 10 points but in game two and three, he has adjusted to stay in the open field out of the pick-and-roll action which is helping the Oilers to stretch the floor against very good shot-blockers. “Of course he is stretching the floor for us; he is shooting pretty well.”; Oiler’s Coach Mande juruni told Cucu Brian.
With the floor this wide open, we are seeing the the Oilers’ guards getting very effective in one-on-one isolation situations. Jimmy Enabu, Ben Komakech and Tony Drileba had 13pts, 12pts and 11pts respectively another indication of how much Landry’s shooting is leaving Canons’ defenders on islands. It gets pretty tough guarding explosive guards in isolation – Canons have become foul prone.
“I can assure you, for the next couple of games, we are not going to let Landry beat us. Somebody else will have to do it. We thought it’d be in our advantage to let him have the ball in the perimeter but now we have to adjust. He hit some big shots tonight.” – UCU Canons Head Coach, Nick Natuhereza told Cucu Brian.
Fayed Bbale is inking his name top of the Rookie-Of-Year conversation; Fayed led the Canons in game three with 19 points on a 50 percent shooting in 28 minutes on the floor. Coach Nick has repeatedly hinted that Fayed gives him better control of the offensive sets. Another rookie Jerry Kayanga came off the bench for 11 points. I mentioned in my previous write that this finals series is much about Landry and Okello James as much as it is about Titus Lual and Fadhili Chuma. Chuma and Lual combined for 22 points with Chuma fouling out after 31 minutes on the floor with 14 points and 11 rebs.
Cucu Brian asked Coach Juruni Mande if he feels like he has figured it out in this finals series; he said.
“I can’t exhaustively say but that’s what the playoffs are about. The more you play against a team, the more you learn about them and you keep adjusting.”
The Oilers, already a 9-man squad could suffer yet another blow with Tony Drileba going down with a potential achilles late in 4Q. We learned that he was taking a late night X-ray to assess the level of damage done to his leg. Coach Juruni has run a very tight rotation in game two and three playing only 7 of his 9 players but he is confident at this time of the year and with all the basketball they’ve been playing – they can handle the work load. He insists that ‘when one man is down, the next has to pick up from him’. Prayers up for Drileba.
Tony Drileba went down late in the fourth quarter. Photo: Stone/FUBA
The Men’s NBL Finals will now take a break till January 2020 to allow City Oilers to prepare for the Basketball Africa League Qualifier event in Kigali that runs December 17 – 22.
“We wanted to go to Kigali when we’re in charge of the series. Now we can put a pause on the Playoffs and focus on BAL. We shall start practice on Wednesday. Our foreign based players start to come in tomorrow.” – Coach Juruni.
In the Women NBL Finals, JKL Lady Dolphins are in charge of the series 2-1 against UCU Lady Canons. The Women finals will continue as scheduled.
brian@basketball256.net | Twitter: @Cucubrian
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