Maker Out, Petty In For City Oilers Against UCU Canons

Wednesday, August 21
*JKL Lady Dolphins Vs JT Lady Jaguars (2-0) – 7pm
*City Oilers Vs UCU Canons (2-0) – 9pm

City Oilers will be missing their crucial center, Moses Maker, when they face UCU Canons in Game Three of the NBL Playoffs semifinals on Wednesday at Lugogo.

Maker sustained a facial injury during a collision with Peter Sifuma in the first quarter of Sunday’s Game Two and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period.

His absence is a significant blow to the Oilers, as Maker was averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game this season.

With Maker out, the Oilers will rely heavily on their remaining big men, Titus Lual and Rogers Dauna, both of whom are former UCU players.

The team’s depth will once again be tested after Edrine Walujjo was given a five-year ban over match-fixing.

There is, however, a silver lining for the Oilers: United States guard Petty Perry Parrish is expected to make his league debut on Wednesday.

Parrish was an unused substitute on Sunday, having jetted into the Country a day earlier, and his presence could provide a much-needed boost to the team as they aim to complete a sweep of the Canons.

The Oilers, who have won the NBL title nine times consecutively, lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and are on the brink of advancing to the finals with a win on Wednesday.

However, the Canons showed resilience in the last two quarters of Game Two, winning 12-10 and 19-17, and out-rebounding the Oilers 58-44. The Canons will need to build on that performance if they hope to keep their season alive.

To do so, UCU must execute a near-perfect game, especially given the lack of contribution from key players like Jimmy Otim and Jerry Kayanga, who combined for zero points in Sunday’s match.