City Oilers and KIU Titans will starting on Friday evening at the Lugogo MTN Arena fighting for the right to be called 2017 National Basketball League champions.
The two teams meet in a best of seven series finale a month later than initially planned following the former’s second appearance at the Fiba Africa Champions Cup last month.
They emerged fifth, an improvement from their ninth place finish the year before, making them favourites to clinch a fifth straight domestic league crown.
“We are mentally sharpened,” Oilers captain Enabu said ahead of the finals.
He averaged 25 minutes and seven points, the most of all the seven domestic Oilers players that featured at AfroBasket in Tunisia.
Before their Tunisian sojourn, the Oilers had swept past Betway Power 3-0 in the semi-finals to underline their superiority.
KIU on the other hand saw off Pemba Warriors 3-1 to book their maiden final appearance led by a rejuvenated shooting guard Sudi Ulanga who averaged 15 points in the final two games under the new coach Brian Wathum.
The Titans consisting of mostly foreign based players have had to forego the festive activities to focus on the final, a period in which their new found unity was further tested by the death of Wathum’s wife.
“We have been given enough time to prepare. So we don’t have excuses in that regard,” Titans captain Ulanga stated in the pre-game press conference.
The Titans who have flattered to deceive despite massive recruitments over the past two seasons will also look to make the most of few advantages over their more established opponents.
“We shall be looking at exploring the chances in the post because we believe we have better post players. We didn't do it well in semis and quarterfinals but we try to make it count,” added Ulanga.
The Oilers have meanwhile never lost a playoff series in 14 attempts in a sequence that started with a 2-1 series victory over the Titans in 2013.
Two players from each side remain from that series almost five years ago with Samuel Aguttu and Chris Omanye the only survivors for the Titans while Enabu and James Okello remain integral for the Oilers.
The latter’s aggression gives the Oilers a fighting edge on the inside to enhance the intelligence of Landry Ndikumana against the Titans front court that consists of Ethienne Kazungu, Geoffrey Soro Oscar Muge and Francis Kumpanyi.
Apart from their four league crowns, the Oilers also won the two regular season meetings between the two teams 73-64 in the first round and 64-61 towards the end of the regular season.
Series Schedule (All Games at Lugogo Indoor Stadium)
Game 1: Friday, January 5 – 7:00pm
Game 2: Sunday, January 7 – 5:30pm
Game 3: Wednesday, January 10 – 7:00pm
Game 4: Friday, January 12 – 7:00pm
Game 5*: Sunday, January 14 – 5:30pm
Game 6*: Wednesday, January 17 – 7:00pm
Game 7*: Friday, January 19 – 7:00pm