Wednesday, August 21*JKL Lady Dolphins 68-70 JT Lady Jaguars (2-1)*City Oilers 78-63 UCU Canons (3-0)
Thursday, August 22*KIU Rangers Vs UCU Lady Canons – 7pm (1-2)*Nam Blazers Vs KIU Titans – 9pm (1-2)
Petty Parrish marked his debut in the National Basketball League (NBL) by scoring all 14 of his points in a crucial fourth quarter, helping City Oilers secure a 78-63 victory over UCU Canons in an electrifying performance.
The win completed a sweep in their best-of-five series, propelling the Oilers into their 10th consecutive NBL final.
The United States-born guard, making his first-ever appearance in the league, had a rocky start after sustaining an eye injury just seconds into his debut following a collision with Peter Sifuma.
This early setback seemed to throw Parrish off his game, as he struggled to find his rhythm throughout the first three quarters.
He missed his first three-point attempt and committed a turnover shortly after entering the game in the first quarter.
Despite another chance in the second quarter, Parish failed to convert a three-point attempt and had little impact as the Oilers worked to maintain their lead.
The third quarter was equally frustrating for Parrish, with two turnovers and a missed field goal adding to his woes.
However, Parrish turned the game on its head in the fourth quarter. Brought back into the game with six minutes remaining, Parrish immediately made his presence felt with a layup that broke a 59-59 tie. He then went on a shooting spree, nailing four consecutive three-pointers in just two minutes, pushing the Oilers’ lead to a commanding 15 points.
His explosive performance earned him a standing ovation from the City Oilers fans, despite another collision with Sifuma that saw him taken off as a precaution.
Titus Lual led the Oilers with a game-high 25 points, while Ivan Muhwezi and Malual Dier added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
For the UCU Canons, Peter Sifuma delivered a strong performance with 25 points, and Jerry Kayanga chipped in 10, but their efforts were not enough to stave off elimination.
With the victory, the City Oilers advance to their 10th straight NBL final, where they will face the winner of the ongoing series between KIU Titans and Nam Blazers.
