Burundi’s Urunani secured a dramatic 78-75 overtime victory against Uganda’s City Oilers in the East Division Elite 16, maintaining their unbeaten streak and advancing to the semi-finals as Group B leaders.
The closely fought clash, held in Nairobi, was a rematch of the 2022 semis, where the Oilers emerged victorious. This time, Urunani turned the tables, exacting revenge in thrilling fashion.
The Oilers started strong, led by Parrish Petty’s sharp shooting. Petty scored 17 first-half points, hitting five three-pointers to help his team build a commanding 41-26 lead by halftime.
The Oilers’ dominance continued into the third quarter, extending their advantage to 20 points with a 13-8 run.
However, Urunani, spurred on by Jean-Jacques Boissy and Malick Genzahayo, mounted an extraordinary comeback.
Boissy, who managed just seven points in the first half, found his range in the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers, slicing the Oilers’ lead to 12. Genzahayo then nailed a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter at 60-50, setting up a tense final period.
Urunani continued their resurgence in the fourth, outscoring the Oilers and forcing overtime with a relentless defensive effort.
In the extra period, Urunani held their nerve, securing the three-point win and cementing their place as Group B’s top team.
Jean-Jacques Boissy spearheaded Urunani’s comeback, finishing with a team-high 24 points. Malick Genzahayo contributed 15 points, including the crucial buzzer-beater, while Olivier Shingiro’s defensive prowess played a significant role in shutting down the Oilers’ attack in the second half.
For the Oilers, Parrish Petty finished with 22 points, and Israel Otobo added 14 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Ugandan champions were unable to maintain their momentum, faltering under Urunani’s second-half pressure.
City Oilers will face Nairobi Thunder in the semi-finals on Monday evening.
