The City Oilers secured the top seed ahead of the 2024 National Basketball League playoffs with a decisive 82-48 victory over Livingstone on Wednesday night at the YMCA in Kampala.
The win moves them above the Namuwongo Blazers, who are in second place but have played one more game.
In a game marked by strong performances from multiple players, the City Oilers demonstrated their dominance early on.
They led Livingstone 23-9 at the end of the first quarter and maintained their momentum throughout the match, leading 46-13 at halftime.
The Oilers’ balanced scoring and solid defense were evident as they finished the game with a 34-point margin.
The standout players for the City Oilers included Allawi Ssenkubuge, who scored 14 points, and Mer Maker, who contributed 8 points along with 10 rebounds. Malual Dier also had a notable performance with 7 rebounds and 4 points.
Livingstone struggled to find their rhythm, with Oscar Byomuhangi being the only player to score in double figures with 13 points.
Bismarck Okot Omoya added 9 points and 5 rebounds but it was not enough to challenge the Oilers’ superiority.
The City Oilers will face the seventh-placed UCU Canons in their final regular season game on Friday.
Meanwhile, the KIU Titans, currently in third place, have a chance to move up to second if they can overcome the Kampala Rockets on Saturday.
The playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday, July 10. The City Oilers entering as the top seed will face the team that finishes eighth in the regular season on Saturday 13th July.
