Vijana, Pazi in tricky RBA League games

Dar es Salaam. For basketball lovers, the National Indoor Stadium is the place to be today as the RBA League continues.

The 16-team regional league enters its ninth round with three exciting games on the card.

Vijana alias City Bulls will be looking to extend their unbeaten run this season when they lock horns with DB Young Stars.

The City Bulls sit second on the 16-team log with 16 points accumulated from eight games. They tie with Savio, but the latter have a superior points difference.

Pazi will also have a tricky game against Jogoo in the second meeting of the day. Jogoo will be hard-pressed to return to winning ways after tumbling to a 77-72 loss at the hands of Ukonga Kings on Friday night. Kurasini Heat and Magnets will square up in the final game of the day at night.

In Friday’s game, Erick Lugola inspired Oilers to an 85-51 victory over the Dar Outsiders after notching 24 points.

Oilers, who were pre-game favourites, started on a high note and at the end of the first quarter, they managed a 17-11 lead.

The Outsiders returned to the second quarter looking determined to reverse the score, but their efforts fell short as the Oiler recorded a wafer-thin 19-17 win. The Oilers were leading by 36-28 at the breather.

It was all Oilers in the third quarter as they reduced the Outsiders to novices with 20-9 blitz.

The Outsiders did no recover from the third quarter rout as they succumbed to a 29-14 loss in the final quarter.

Oilers captain Amani Maro scored 12 points as his teammates Andrew and Nelo Leven added 11 and eight points, respectively.

In another game, Ukonga Kings edged Jogoo 77-72 in a well contested clash at the same venue.

Speaking after the game, Ukonga Kings coach Daniel Kapongo lauded his players for a spirited fight from the start to the final whistle.

“My players put up a real fight throughout the game. It was a very difficult game, but we are all happy that we got the two points,” said Kapongo.