It feels like a lifetime ago but every moment of that 2022 NBL finals game 7 between the Namuwongo Blazers and City Oilers still appears vividly in many people’s minds as though it was yesterday.

The Arena was filled to capacity as early as 4 pm, three hours prior to the commencement of the first game.

There were so many people at the event that the staircases were full of individuals sitting down. There was barely any space for players to inbound the ball on the sidelines, and even the entrance was congested with people trying to get a glimpse of the live-action.

Screens were placed outside the stadium, allowing those who couldn’t catch the live action inside to enjoy the game as well. Lugogo was filled with people, swarming like bees; the entire area was crowded.

The City Oilers edged the Namuwongo Blazers 66:64 in a thrilling game 7 that will go down as one of the greatest game 7s in Ugandan basketball.

The City Oilers dominated their opponents once again on 14th April 2023, clinching a 57:51 victory in a low-scoring game. This marked their 9th consecutive win since the 2022 finals, proving themselves yet again as a force to be reckoned with.

They met again on 16th June in the opener of round 2 of the NBL and the City Oilers made easy work of the Blazers with a 72:52 victory. During that game, Tonny Drileba registered the first triple-double of the season.

The Blazers and the 9-time champions are set to face each other again on Friday, March 1st. There is a lot of optimism in the Blazers camp that they will emerge victorious this time around.

The City Oilers are heading into their next game with a flawless record of 5 wins in 5. Five of their players, namely Titus Odeke, Fayed Baale, Ivan Muhwezi, James Okello, and Tonny Drileba, have just returned from Tunisia where they represented the country in the first window of the 2025 Afrobasket Qualifiers.

The Namuwongo Blazers have had a decent start to the season, winning four out of their five games. Their only loss came against Our Savior, who managed to stage an impressive comeback from a 17-point deficit to clinch a victory by 10 points.

Can the Namuwongo Blazers end the City Oilers unbeaten run?

The City Oilers have been in stellar form since the start of the season defeating their opponents with so much ease. They defeat their opponents with an average of 22.6 points, the highest in the league.

In their previous game, they made light work on KIU Titans in what had promised to be a tough game for them but in the end, it was just another easy victory.

The Nam Blazers have the best offensive rating this season with an average 77.2 points per game.

They faced the JT Jaguars in their last game and despite the Jaguars giving them a bloody nose, they managed to get picked an 85:76 victory in overtime.T

The City Oilers will be hoping for the return of Mer Maker who hasn’t featured this season.

The Nam Blazers see this as an opportunity to secure a win against a contender and this can improve confidence in the camp as they rally to secure their first league title.

The City Oilers will want to keep their record perfect and will surely be coming out in full force to show who own the city.

Head to Head

City Oilers 72:52 Nam Blazers

City Oilers 57:51 Nam Blazers

City Oilers 66:64 Nam Blazers

City Oilers 76:71 Nam Blazers

City Oilers 70:65 Nam Blazers

Previous results (Nam Blazers)

JT Jaguars 76:85 Nam Blazers

Nam Blazers 89:67 Kampala Rockets

Nam Blazers 84:64 KCCA Panthers

Nam Blazers 65:75 Our Savior

Nam Blazers 63:59 KIU Titans

Previous results (City Oilers)

City Oilers 72:63 KIU Titans

City Oilers 83:75 Ndejje Angels

City Oilers 81:56 JKL Dolphins

City Oilers 74:38 Our Savior

City Oilers 73:38 Power