Oilers get off the mark

National Basketball League

Results

Women

JKL 102 UPDF 63

KIU 53 Miracle 48

Men

Namuwongo 74 Rockets 41

Oilers 68 Rezlife 62

The City Oilers are finally off the mark.

It is far from vintage Oilers, but they will take the win.

Fayed Bbaale made his much-needed season debut, finishing with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting as the ten-time National Basketball League champions secured their first win of the season, defeating the Rezlife Saints 68-62 in Lubowa.

The point guard added five assists and five rebounds for the Oilers, who went into halftime trailing 33-27 but outscored Rezlife 28-9 in the third quarter to regain control of the contest.

Rezlife were led by former Oiler Michael Otieno, with a game-high 24 points, including 2-of-3 from long range.

Acinbaai Takpinyi added 10 points for Rezlife, who fell to 3-6 with the defeat. The Oilers improved to 1-2 for the season, with Joseph Chuma grabbing 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Elsewhere, the Namuwongo Blazers improved to 6-0 with a 74-41 victory over the Kampala Rockets, with four players finishing with double figures. James Okello had a game-high 13 points for the league-leading Blazers, Innocent Ochera had 11, while Jimmy Enabu and Joel Lukoji scored 10 apiece.

The Rockets, who fell to 3-3, were led by Brian Opio and Pauti Kikomba with 11 and 10 points respectively.