Petro de Luanda from Angola secured a remarkable win in the Nile Conference over Ugandan champions -City Oilers- at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall on Thursday night, as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2023 continued its exciting action.
After four intense quarters of basketball, the final scoreline showed PET 89, while City Oilers Basketball scored 71, marking an impressive victory for Petro de Luanda.
The game started with both teams looking to gain an early advantage. Petro de Luanda’s Childe Dundao led the charge for his team, scoring 11 points in the first quarter alone, as his team took a 21-14 lead at the end of the period.
The Oilers were able to fight back in the second quarter and outscored their opponents by 25-21. However, at halftime, the score was 42-39, with Petro de Luanda leading. This made for an exciting second half.
Petro came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, as Lukeny Gonçalves and Aboubacar Gakou combined for 13 points in the third quarter, helping their team take a 63-59 lead going into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Petro kept their foot on the gas, outscoring Oilers 26-12, to secure a comfortable 18-point victory. Gakou finished with a game-high 16 points, while Morais and Damian Hollis chipped in with 11 points apiece.
Falando Jones, the Oilers’ small forward, topped the scoreboard with an impressive 22 points, while Justice Jr, the shooting guard, contributed 20 points, and Titus Odeke, who formerly played for UCU, added 10 points.
However, their combined efforts fell short, leaving the Kampala Boys unable to overcome the Angolans’ lead.
In the latest standings, Al Ahly Sporting Club, Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda, and Cape Town Tigers are leading the way in the Nile Conference with one win each while Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club, Clube Ferroviário da Beira, and City Oilers are trailing behind respectively, with one loss each.
The Oilers will be taking on Egypt’s Al Ahly in their next match on Saturday, as Petro de Luanda play Ferroviário da Beira on the same day at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall.
