National Basketball League | Men
- City Oilers 57-68 KCCA Panthers
The YMCA court in Kampala witnessed yet another National Basketball League (NBL) twist on the evening of April 21, 2025, as the City Oilers slumped to their third defeat of the season, falling 68-57 to the gritty KCCA Panthers.
In a game that started with promise for the Oilers, it was the Panthers who ultimately held their nerve to grind out the win in front of a modest but energetic crowd.
The Oilers, looking to assert dominance early, stormed through the first quarter with a commanding 27-19 lead.
However, their momentum stalled quickly, scoring just 10 points in the second quarter and only managing 20 points combined in the entire second half.
On the other hand, KCCA Panthers remained composed, rallying from behind and eventually outscoring the Oilers in each of the final three quarters.
KCCA’s comeback was built on defensive resilience and balanced scoring. While the detailed stats were not fully available, standout performances came from Stephen Otoa who played a pivotal role both defensively and offensively and Ivan Lumanyika whose presence in the paint proved crucial in disrupting the Oilers’ rhythm.
Their combined impact kept City Oilers at bay during crucial stretches, particularly in the low-scoring final quarter, where the Panthers held them to just 11 points.
Despite their strong start, the Oilers failed to find their footing as the game wore on. Fayed Baale continued to show leadership and playmaking ability while Joseph Chuma contributed significantly on both ends of the floor.
But without consistent offensive flow and key turnovers in the third quarter, the Oilers couldn’t keep pace with the Panthers’ second-half surge.
For the City Oilers, this is their third defeat after losing to Namuwongo Blazers and JT Jaguars and could serve as a much-needed wake-up call.
Though still firmly in the playoff conversation, they’ll need to address second-half lapses and find a way to maintain pressure through all four quarters.
For KCCA Panthers, Toussaint Mampuya managed a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds just like Davis Assimwe who put up 13.
With Fayed Baale, City Oilers had a floor general and key playmaker who raised 21 points, the only one to collect double figures.
Earlier on in the day at the same venue, KIU Titans were punished by UCU Canons 63-46, whereas Nam Blazers triumphed over Livingstone 81-44.
In the Women, KCCA opened the floor with a commanding 84-59 result over Nabisunsa Girls Basketball Club while UCU Lady Canons also dominated Nkumba Lady Marines 81-47.
