Friday, June 16
•JKL Lady Dolphins Vs JT Lady Jaguars, 7pm
•Nam Blazers Vs City Oilers, 9pm
City Oilers will be without Luak Ruai and Michael Ngut against Nam Blazers as the National Basketball League second round tips of on Friday at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Ngut has not been training with the team over ‘personal reasons’ while Ruai was summoned to the South Sudan National team for AFROCAN.
In fact, for Ruai, he may be out for a while as after AFROCAN, he will head out for a development camp in Georgia (Europe).
It’s a huge blow for Oilers as Ruai is the Club’s leading scorer with 172 points, averaging 15.6 points this season.
Ngut, averaging 13.3 points per game, is third on leading scorers’ list at Oilers.
Germaine Roebuck who was added to the Roster after the BAL exploits in Cairo is yet to jet into the Country, and it remains to be seen if he might be used at any stage this season.
But Coach Mande Juruni will feel that he still has enough armoury even without the absentees.
Fayed Bbaale and Titus Lual seamlessly fitted into the team and were heads and shoulders above everyone in the first round after joining from UCU Canons.
James Okello, Jimmy Enabu and Tonny Drilleba are the other starters while with the likes of Ceaser Kizito, Ivan Muhwezi, Ben Komakech, Edrine Walujjo, Oilers will feel they have plenty of options off the bench.
They ended the first round atop and above all unbeaten in 11 games, including beating Nam Blazers 57-51 on April 14.
Nam Blazers on the other hand, will also be without Peter Cheng who was also summoned by South Sudan.
On average, Cheng posted a double double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in the first round, very unrivalled!
But the side has added an American with Ugandan decency Julius Trumane Mcmillion, commonly known as Kol.
The big man with admirable post moves was reportedly on Oilers roster before the season started, but he will be donning the Nam Blazers jersey instead.
The Club is still fighting tooth and nail to see that he is cleared for the big game on Friday.
Carlos Ochi is ruled out, Dickson Asiku, Paul Odong and Geoffrey Soro might need late assessments as they carry knocks.
Michael Makiadi and Chris Omanye will be asked to carry a huge weight but it looks like a huge mountain for the Blazers to climb.
Stephen Nyeko’s Blazers won eight and lost three in the first round, and will be looking for revenge against a side that beat them in last season’s game seven.
In the opening fixture, JT Lady Jaguars and JKL Lady Dolphins meet in mouthwatering clash.
