NBL Finals: Okal’s Blazers fall short in Game seven.

Ugandan side City Oilers are the 2022 FUBA National Basketball League champions after seeing off debutants Namuwongo Blazers 66-64 in a title-deciding game seven at the MTN Arena in Lugogo on Friday night.

Having dominated the Ugandan basketball scene for the better part of the last decade, the win capped off an impressive run of eight consecutive titles dating back to 2013.

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The win also secures a chance for the City Oilers to battle it out with African representation in the 2024 Basketball Africa League qualifiers next year, a tournament that involves the top cream of Africa’s top clubs.

Namuwongo Blazers, making their first-ever appearance in the NBL post-season had produced an epic comeback in the finals, showing the resilience to level the series at 3-3 after trailing 3-1 in game 4.

It was the Newcomers who kicked off proceedings on a high, racing to an early 17-13 lead with just under 4 minutes to play in the first quarter.

Championship pedigree showed up for the City Oilers as they came back in brilliant fashion to take a two-point lead heading into the second quarter. They would later dominate the second period, winning 17-16 to take a three-point lead into the locker room.

A 20-10 advantage for the Namuwongo Blazers in the third quarter produced their biggest lead of the game, 7 points, leading 55-48 at the end of the third. The tight contest got tastier in the closing quarter as the Oilers clawed back to lead by 2 with only 27 seconds left on the clock. A pair of baskets on both ends of the floor all but secured the Oilers a record eighth league triumph, with the excited fans running across the court when the buzzer sounded.

Francis Chijoke scored a game-high 24 points for the title-winning Oilers, with fan-favorite Tony Drileba adding 10 points with 31 minutes played.

Paul Odong led the scoring for the Blazers, 16 points on 45% shooting, MVP favorites Christopher Omanye and Deng Dikong scooped 12 and 11 points each, wing Moran’s center Ariel Okal putting up seven points, seven rebounds and two steals in the loss.

Marginally close but not to be for the Namuwongo Blazers, falling in their first postseason attempt after topping the regular season standings.

Having burst into the scene in 2015, the Blazers won lots of hearts in their seemingly fairy-tale run to promotion in 2019 to gracing the NBL Finals three years later. Coach Stephen Nyeko the floor mastermind together with a bunch of experienced players like Ariel Okal, a five-time club champion, who admitted to a growing belief in the locker room that would see them dominate in years to come.

The focus for the City Oilers now turns to the Road to BAL 2023 scheduled to take place in the next week in a yet-to-be-determined venue due to the Ebola virus scare.

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The Oilers are pooled in the West Division together with Burundi’s Urunani BBC, Ethiopia’s Hawassa City, Tanzanian club Army Basket and Matero Magic of Zambia.

For the Namuwongo Blazers, some time out to recollect and hopefully get over the hump next season.