If the NBL opener between 8 times straight National Champions, City Oilers and KIU Titans is anything of a believable precursor of what’s to come this season, then we are definitely out for some scary hours. The KIU Titans with their acquisitions coming into this season were dubbed the challengers to the status quo – at least on paper, but on opening night, they look lesser than that expectation. The reigning champions, City Oilers defeated KIU Titans 79-51 in a one-sided affair.
From the opening whistle, City Oilers looked dominant and never let their foot off the pedal. They won all four quarters, scoring 21-8, 18-12, 24-18, and 16-13 respectively, showcasing their depth of talent across the team.
Titus Lual was a standout player in his NBL debut for City Oilers, scoring a huge double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Point guard Fayed Baale also made an impact, adding 11 points to the team’s scoreline. Ruai Luak has also returned to this Oilers roster after his stint in Russia with Zenith Basketball. Ruai scored 9 points.
But it was Michael Ngut, the team’s new import from South Sudan’s Cobra Basketball Club, who stole the show in the first quarter. Ngut scored an impressive 12 points before being forced to leave the court due to an injury. Despite only playing for 15 minutes, Ngut managed to score a total of 15 points, giving a glimpse of his talent and potential for the rest of the season.
Although the Titans struggled throughout the game, with only Stanley Mugerwa and Saidi Melo Amisi scoring double digits with 18 and 11 points respectively, it was clear that City Oilers were the stronger team on the night. With the likes of Jimmy Enabu and Ben Komakech coming off the bench and the addition of Hakim Ghedi as their center, the Oilers are tipped to dominate the league this season.
But this was only the opening game of a long season, and anything can happen along the way. However, City Oilers’ performance in this game showcased why they are the team to beat and the extent of their talent across the roster.
City Oilers’ dominance in the opening game of the Uganda National Basketball League against KIU Titans has set the tone for what could be an exciting and unpredictable season. With the Oilers looking unstoppable with their mix of youthful energy and experience, it will be interesting to see if any team can challenge their dominance in the upcoming games.
By Cucu Brian
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