Friday, October 14
*JKL Lady Dolphins 67-75 UCU Lady Canons (3-4)
*Nam Blazers 64-66 City Oilers
KAMPALA, UGANDA: City Oilers had to dig it deep to overcome a spirited Nam Blazers side to defend their crown in the National Basketball League for an eighth record-extending time!
The match held at Lugogo Indoor Arena tipped off after UCU Lady Canons dethroned JKL Dolphins to comeback from 3-1 to force a game of seven series which they won 4-3.
Nam Blazers like UCU Lady Dolphins shared a similar scenario having fallen 3-1 after four games and had to win game 5 and 6 to force a best-of-seven series.
The Oilers defeated Nam Blazers 66-64 to clinch a 4-3 series win in the Tusker-Lite sponsored NBL finals series.
For the first time in years, the champions were awarded cash prizes as Oilers took home Sh5M while Nam Blazers settled for Sh2.5m courtesy of Tusker-Lite.
Francis Azolibe led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Tonny Drilleba (10 points) was the other Oilers players to score in double digits.
Paul Odong scored 16 points, Chris Omanye and David Deng Dikong scored 12 and 11 points for Nam Blazers in their effort.
Oilers’ legacy in dominating the NBL started way back in 2013 as Namuwongo Blazers joined a list of casualties that have massacred by the indomitable side in the finals. Others on the casualty list are the Falcons, Power (3), KIU Titans, and the UCU Canons (2).
The result means City Oilers have defeated Falcons, Power (three times), KIU Titans, UCU Canons (two times)and debut finalists Nam Blazers to dominate the league.
The Past Winners
- 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
- 2017: City Oilers
- 2018: City Oilers
- 2019: City Oilers
- 2020: N/A (COVID)
- 2021: N/A (COVID)
- 2022: City Oilers
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