A mixed performance by the City Oilers against debutants Bangui SC this evening saw the Ugandan side suffer their fourth loss at the Basketball Africa League Nile Conference in Cairo, Egypt.
The Oilers, who struggled to deal with a well-drilled Bangui setup, trailed 34-46 at halftime before closing the gap to 61-64 at the end of the third quarter.
A fourth-quarter slump inside the closing five minutes, characterized by failed shot attempts and increased turnovers, saw the Ugandan record champions forced to play catch-up after falling behind by 10 points.
Bangui were able to step up when it mattered, sealing a 91-76 win – their third of the campaign and securing a playoff berth for the side.
Through 20-year-old guard Thierry Darlan, who is set for the 2024 NBA draft, forward Omega Komesse, and Kurt Wegscheider, Bangui took charge of the game to cruise to victory.
Guard Patrick Rembert led the Oilers’ charts with a team-high 21 points and 9 rebounds, with Dane Miller Jr contributing 16 points and 9 rebounds. Randy Culpepper Sr added 16 points, and another double-double from budding youngster Khaman Maluach of 10 points and 13 rebounds continued to showcase the 17-year-old’s potential.
The loss all but ends Oilers’ playoff hopes as they take on Al Ahly Libya tomorrow at 6 pm in their game with a 1-4 record. The top two sides at the end of the games are guaranteed automatic qualification to the playoffs due 24 May-1 June in Kigali, Rwanda.
