On January 15, City Oilers became the first team to win four consecutive national basketball league titles; and their comprehensive 78-46 victory over Power in game five of the best-of-seven series confirmed the champions are set to rule the sport for more years, writes NDYAMUHAKI EMANZI.
Coach Mandy Juruni’s charges came out guns blazing and, for the first time in the series, had a good start to a game. Having been second-best in the first three quarters of each of the first four games in the series, Oilers started with purpose and executed like never before. They also limited Power by rebounding to kill the quick transition on which the five-time champions thrive.
Arnold Lando’s Power, criticized for their anti-climax in the first three losses, were a shadow of themselves and just escorted Oilers to the crown in the make-or-break game.
“We finally played the way we like to play and everyone is happy with the win and the title,”said Oilers’ captain Jimmy Enabu, scorer of 15 points in game five.
Started in 2011, Oilers gained promotion to the top division the following year and have not stopped winning since. The 4-3 series win over Falcons in 2013 marked the start of Oilers’ league dominance. They followed that up with a 4-0 clean sweep of Power in 2014 before a nail-biting 4-3 triumph over UCU Canons in 2015.
The latest win, 4-1 over Power, may not have brought the best out of Oilers but they got the job done. Prior to the league triumph, Oilers had won the Africa Zone V Club Championship and made their debut at the Fiba Africa Champions Cup, where they finished ninth out of ten teams.
UNSTOPPABLE
For four seasons now, no single team seems to find the diagnosis required to tame Oilers. After making significant signings, KIU Titans were expected to challenge Oilers in the last two seasons but have still failed to win a semifinal series that would see them line up against Oilers in the finals.
The arrival of Norman Blick, Geoffrey Soro and Henry Malinga at the Kansanga outfit was supposed to take the university side to the finals but UCU Canons washed the dream down the drain in 2015 before Power did the same at the same stage this season.
Oilers still possess the most balanced team in the league and have dominated teams both inside the paint and from three-point range. They have never lost a series since joining the league in 2013 and have enough machinery to claim a fifth consecutive title.
RECRUITMENT
Even when they can afford to have a big roster with big-name players, Oilers have only gone into the market when they have to. Jonah Otim and Brian Ssentongo were the only additions to the team this season as Oilers looked to replace Samuel Kalwanyi, who got a scholarship in the US, and also cover up for Ben Komakech, who still had issues with his knees at the start of the season as well as the fading Geoff Omondi.
Otim has gone on to earn himself a starting place ahead of Omondi while Ssentongo often came off the bench to rest either of Kami Kabange or Landry Ndikumana.
Throughout the season, Power had to play with less than ten players because of their financial constraints. Some of the players they had in the previous season couldn’t continue with the team because it could no longer pay their salary.
At Oilers, that is unheard of and the players’ concentration is expected to be on their next game and not hustling for their next meal or transport to their training ground.
Nothing makes work easy like letting structures operate and that is what Oilers have done. They have maintained the same faces that started with the team and are one of the few sides to have avoided bickering within the team.
Even in the absence of team manager Silver Rugambwa, who did most of the recruitment for the team, Grace Kwizera and Mohammed Santur have kept the fire burning.
The management at the club has ensured the high level of discipline. In the 2015 season, Omondi was suspended by the club for a brawl with Henry Mulira at the team’s training ground at Silver Spring in Bugolobi.
UNDISPUTED
By winning this season’s title, Juruni captured his fifth consecutive league title as a coach. He started with the 2012 triumph with Warriors before crossing to Oilers with whom he has won four on the bounce.
His ability to use players to their strength and game reading has set him apart in Ugandan basketball. He has earned the respect of every player and has been given all the powers by the management.
FUBA League CHAMPIONS
1996: Power
1997: Charging Rhino
1998: Falcons
1999: Falcons
2000: Power
2001: Sky Jammers
2002: Falcons
2003: Falcons
2004: Falcons
2005: Nkumba Marines
2006: Nkumba Marines
2007: Falcons
2008: Power
2009: Warriors
2010: Power
2011: Power
2012: Warriors
2013: City Oilers
2014: City Oilers
2015: City Oilers
2016: City Oilers
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