The KIU Titans’ championship dreams were dealt a blow on Friday night as they fell short to the City Oilers 70-64 in game two of the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL) finals.
Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Titans couldn’t overcome a late surge by the Oilers and now find themselves down 0-2 in the best-of-five series.
The Titans started strong, leading by six points at halftime. However, the Oilers clawed their way back in the second half, taking the lead by the end of the third quarter.
In a tense fourth quarter, the Titans clawed their way back to within four points with just four minutes remaining.
A turning point came when star player Joel Lukoji Banza suffered an injury, disrupting the Titans’ momentum. The Oilers capitalized on this setback, outscoring the Titans in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Despite the loss, Banza remains optimistic about the Titans’ chances.
“We are still in the contest much as we are now down by two games. It’s not yet over; we shall fight back starting on Sunday,” he declared in a post-game interview.
Banza acknowledged the disappointment of the fans but emphasized the team’s learnings from the game.
“We know it pains to lose a game after so much effort and hope. Now the only choice we have is to win the remaining games but not to give up. We are still fighting, and we shall fight until we can’t fight any longer,” he said.
The Titans now face an uphill battle. They’ll need to win three straight games to have a fighting chance for the championship.
Game three of the series is scheduled for Sunday. The Titans will be desperate to avoid going down 0-3.
