The 2024 National Basketball League (NBL) Finals shall be tipping off on Wednesday 28th August at the Lugogo teams and all the teams are aiming to the the first punch.

The 2 sides met in last year’s finals and the City Oilers managed to close it out in game 6 with a 78-63 victory.

The City Oilers cruised to a 10th consecutive Finals after having swept the Kampala Rockets 2:0 and the UCU Canons 3:0 in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

The KIU Titans on the other hand advanced after an intense semifinals with the Namuwongo Blazers that was decided in Game Five.

We take a look at some of the statistics and results from the teams and players in the playoffs so far.

City Oilers

Playoffs record 5-0

Previous Games

City Oilers 78:63 UCU Canons

City Oilers 62:55 UCU Canons

City Oilers 64:59 UCU Canons

City Oilers 91:69 Kampala Rockets

City Oilers 75:52 Kampala Rockets

Top Performers (Playoffs)

Titus Lual 13 pts, 7.6 reb, 3.2 ast, 1.6 stl, 3.6 T.O, 4.6/12.2, 37.7% FG

Ivan Muhwezi 9.4 pts, 4.2 reb, 2.4 ast, 1.8 stl, 3.2 T.O, 3.8/10.2, 37% FG

Fayed Baale 9.4 pts, 4.2 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 1.8 T.O, 3.4/10.6, 32% FG

KIU Titans

Playoff Record 5-2

Recent Games

KIU Titans 81:78 Nam Blazers

KIU Titans 68:75 Nam Blazers

KIU Titans 74:76 Nam Blazers

KIU Titans 81:77 Nam Blazers

KIU Titans 61:79 Nam Blazers

Top Performers (Playoffs)

Kasereka Tembo 12.3 pts, 2.7 reb,1.3 ast, 3. T.O, 4.14/11.57, 35.8% FG

Joel Lukoji 11.86 pts, 6.1 reb, 4.7 ast, 2.6 stl, 3.7 T.O, 4.29/8.57, 50% FG

Edgar Munaba 11.3 pts, 8.8 reb, 1.6 ast, 1.7 stl, 3.4 T.O, 3.71/10.71, 34.7% FG

Obleng Peter 13.43 pts, 6.14 reb, 1 ast, 2.0 T.O, 5.14/11.86, 43.4% FG

The KIU Titans have been very efficient when it comes to scoring and despite having almost 10 Field Goal attempts less than Nam Blazers per game, they were able to secure bug wins.

As seen in the statistics, Joel Lukoji, Kasereka Tembo, Obleng Peter and Edgar Munaba have been the top performers for the KIU Titans so far in the playoffs.

Obleng seemed unstoppable in 3 of the 5 games against Namuwongo and while the Blazers employed tactics to stop Lukoji, they could only slow him down. He will be the most important player for the Titans and Fayed Baale will be tasked to try and stop him.

Edgar Munaba has struggled a bit with his drives and  despite improving greatly with his shooting, trying to attack the paint will be a thing they need given that the City Oilers do not have many big bodies at the moment.

The City Oilers added guard Petty Parish who wowed the crowd with 4 consecutive 3-point shots in less than 2 minutes.

Having just made a cameo appearance, not much is known about how the Oilers will set up with him in the side. However, the Titans are aware of a potential threat and hopefully the Coach Julius Lutwama has some plans on how to stop/slow him.

Malual Dier will be another important piece for the City Oilers given the gap they have and his performances will be very instrumental.

During the 2023 Finals, Titus Lual was a very big problem for the KIU Titans as he averaged 12.8 points and 10.5 rebounds. He also averaged more than 3 3-point shots per game and he was a threat both inside and outside the perimeter.

In 2023, the City Oilers top Performers,  Jimmy Enabu (15.5 pts, 4.5 reb), Tonny Drileba (8.3 pts, 6 reb, 2.8 ast) and James Okello (8 pts, 8.2 reb) all left the Club and the KIU Titans who also lost a couple of their pieces should be coming in this finals knowing its a different side and that the Championship is there for all.

In case there is any form of inferiority complex, it might as well be another easy championship for the City Oilers.

The Game tips off at 9:00 pm after the Opener between the JKL Lady Dolphins and the UCU Lady Canons