NAIROBI (Kenya) – Uganda’s City Oilers got off to a good start in their campaign for a third qualification to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) by beating South Sudan’s Fox Basketball 77-47.
The team coached by Andrew Tendo got off to a good start, leading 24-6 in a controlled first quarter, the advantage allowing them to hold on until the end of a match where their opponent’s determination to come back was growing. with each passing minute.
However, the Oilers continued to battle through a 20-15 second quarter victory, which allowed them to reach halftime with a 23-point advantage. Two quarters of 21-13 and 13-12 sealed the deal for the Ugandans, a perfect start for coach Tendo who is no stranger to this level of basketball, having been the assistant coach of the team in all previous editions.
Andrew Tendo
“This is the start we had envisioned, because it is always good to win. A victory in the first game means we are on the right track for the rest of the competition and that is what we have been preparing for over the last three weeks However, consistency is key in a tournament of this level and we have to stay focused,” Tendo told FIBA.basketball.
Germaine Roebuck Jr led the charge for the Oilers, who failed to qualify for the BAL playoffs in their last two appearances, scoring 20 points and adding 13 points for Israel Otobo. Otobo, who played for Dynamo BBC of Burundi, came within two rebounds of a double-double in the final Road to BAL.
“Everyone wants to win and being at this level means you have to give your all in a match,” Otobo said. “The competition is tough, but we have prepared well and we hope to continue the momentum.”
Israel Otobo
For his part, coach Ajou Deng, who combines the functions of assistant coach of the South Sudan national team and coach of Fox Basketball, described this defeat as a “shame”, but he is convinced that the The team will be able to recover.
“Nothing is lost yet,” Deng said. “We came into this competition with little preparation and we met a strong Ugandan team who played very well. They sidelined us from the start. They are a solid team whose defense proved difficult to penetrate and almost all of our shots were contested. It was difficult to make adjustments in this match, but it opened our eyes.
As the Oilers prepare to face Urunani in their second game of the playoffs, Deng admits the Burundi champions are a well-oiled machine that it will take more than individual heroics to match.
For their part, the Oilers will try to make it 2-0 when they face the Matero Magic.
FIBA
