The NBL finals series delivered yet another chapter of high-octane basketball drama as the Namuwongo Blazers put up a resilient performance to defeat the City Oilers 74-70 in game 4 to level the series.

Coming into Game 4 at the Lugogo, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The City Oilers had seized control of the championship battle after claiming back-to-back victories in Games 2 and 3. This put the record champions ahead 2-1 and the defending champions were under a lot of pressure.

Game 4 was very crucial and the Nam Blazers needed a response. Despite doing a lot of things right in games 2 and 3, the Blazers’ failed to find the target from beyond the arc and that was a big area that they had to address in game 4.

Namuwongo starting strong

The Namuwongo Blazers started the game on a high and after the first quarter, they led 23-13. They scored on 5 of their first 7 possessions and the efficiency was high. They also managed to score 2 3-point shots in the quarter and this was a very positive sign. The Oilers offense was not firing in the opening minutes and this was because their danger man, Patrick Rembert, was not having enough touches. When Tembo went off, Rembert got the ball more and he scored the final 6 points for the Oilers in the quarter.

Resistant Oilers

After that first quarter, there was some belief that perhaps the Blazers would make a run. That did not happen. In over 6 minutes, they scored just 2 points. The City oilers managed to cut the deficit to 2 points and the momentum shifted in their favor.

Just when you thought the Oilers would tie or take the lead, Namuwongo responded. Jimmy Enabu hit a big three and he and Nyembo closed the game scoring 11 points in about 3 minutes. The Blazers led the game 38-32 at the halftime break.

End to end second half

The competition in the second half was to die for. Namuwongo led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter but the Oilers took over and took a 2-point lead with over 2 minutes left in the quarter. Shortly after, Namuwongo sored 3 quick baskets in transition but Patrick Rembert responded with a big 3 and a midrange jumper to give Oilers back the lead. At this point, the Arena was rocking and the game was still ongoing.

Tonny Drileba made 3 free throws to give the Blazers’ a 2-point lead but Rembert was unable to level the game after he made 1 of 2 free throws. The quarter ended 57-56 with the Blazers in the lead. This set the stage for a very tense fourth quarter.

Toe-to-toe

The 2 teams went all out in the fourth quarter. There were a total of 6 lead changes and to ties in the quarter and that portrays how close and tough the game was for both teams. The game changed when about 3 minutes were remaining.

James Okello scored 2 free throws to tie the game but the Blazers forced 2 consecutive turnovers. Kasereka Tembo scored but Jimmy Enabu missed and the game remained at a 2-point lead. Chukwurah later made it a 4-point game but there an instantaneous response from City oilers to maintain a 1 possession game.

The Oilers were still very close and after a timeout Rembert attempted a 3-point shot which was unsuccessful. Many are still debating that it was foul but the referees did not call. The Oilers got the possession and the finish line was well within sight.

After Drileba scoring from the free throw line. City Oilers still had a chance to level the game but Drileba made a very brilliant. He fouled Rembert while he was still on the floor and this meant that Rembert had to make a very big decision. Make the first free throw and miss the second with the hope that they can rebound and score again or make both free throws and give Oilers back the possession with 10 second to play and a 1-point deficit. He opted for the former but they were unable to secure the offensive rebound and Jimmy Enabu finished them off.

Talking points

One of the biggest changes that Namuwongo made was to put Tembo on Rembert. The American finished with 19 points but 15 of those came when Tembo was on the bench. This shows how impactful Tembo was. Matter of fact, he had the second most +/- with 19, only behind Chukwurah who had 20.

The 3-point shooting was also a key factor. In the previous 2 games, the City oilers scored 18 3-poiint shots while the Blazers had 6. In this game, Namuwongo scored 4 while the Oilers had 3.

Top Performers

Anthony Chukwurah led the Blazers’ in scoring with 15 points plus 11 rebounds. He added 3 steals and he had the highest +/- with 20.  Jimmy Enabu also scored 15 points plus 4 assists. James Okello played like a man possessed and he left everything on the floor. He finished with 12 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Despite playing just 21 minutes, Franck Nyembo finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds.

For the Oilers, Patrick Rembert delivered a game high 19 points and 6 assists. Jonathan Komagum had 12 rebounds, 8 points and 4 assists. Fayed Baale and Joel Lukoji each scored 11 points.

Game 5

With the series now tied at 2-2. Game 5 will be very pivotal in the race to the championship. The 2 teams will meet again on Sunday 16th August at the Lugogo Indoor Arena. If the Oilers are to get a win in game 5, they Patrick Rembert to be more involved. He has been the engine that has made the team run and if he has less touches, the 10-time champions could be in trouble.