Uganda National Basketball League record champions in the men’s division, City Oilers, have qualified for their record 10th consecutive playoff final.
It’s a no-brainer that the Oilers are the only team in both men’s and women’s categories that could manage a sweep in the semifinal playoffs.
They came into Wednesday’s game against UCU Canons 2-0 up in this five-game series and were aware that victory would spare them from playing more games in this semifinal.
It wasn’t a smooth ride in the park for Andrew Tendo’s charges, with Nick Nituhereza’s men determined to force game four, but in vain.
Despite Oilers leading 18-14 in the first quarter, Canons ensured that the scores were level on 39-39 by halftime.
The latter turned the game on its head, taking a two-point advantage by the end of the third quarter, 54-52.
Canons started the fourth quarter strongly but lost momentum in the final stages of the game, with the Oilers capitalising for a 78-63 victory.
A couple of players put up a show on the night at the Lugogo Arena, but Oilers’ Pretty Parrish grabbed the headlines on his debut.
The American-born point guard had an up-and-about performance with the first three quarters not going his way, but he turned up when the Oilers needed him most in the fourth quarter, converting all his attempted 14 points.
Oilers await the victor between KIU Titans and Namuwongo Blazers, a series the former is leading 2-1 heading into game four on Thursday.
They have won all their preceding nine finals with the previous two coming against Nam Blazers and Titans in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
