Tiger Head Power brought City Oilers winning run against them to an end and the timing couldn't be any better.
The 90-88 overtime win on Wednesday night at YMCA did not only end City Oilers' fourteen game winning run but also leveled the five-game semifinal series.
"Getting our dignity back was the motivation. I told the guys in the team talk to forget about what the media say, let's forget about trying to beat them to prove a point but lets just get our respect back and they showed it out there, they wanted their respect back" Power coach, Bernes Akunda said after the win.
It was City Oilers that got off the blocks first with a 28-18 first as guard Jeff Omondi (23 points) was filling it from 3-point range. Power were determined not to let it slip again responding with a 15-5 second quarter and their ascendency into the game continued in the third to into the final quarter leading by 8 points (58-50).
Omondi ignited Oilers come back that cut Power's lead to three points at the start of the fourth quarter with a corner 3-pointer.
Bernes Akunda then called a Power timeout but after they were forced into a turnover and Mandy Juruni called for a City Oilers timeout. On return, Omondi inbounded to Ben Komakech who took three dribbles and passed it Kami at the top of the stripe and elevated over Micheal Makiadi (19 points) to tie the game at 76 and force overtime.
Joseph Ikong found Sudi Ulanga (20 points) to open overtime from downtown before adding a lay up and a free throw. Omondi responded with back-to-back 3 pointers
While the teams matched through the period but Power got the edge.
City Oilers coach Mandy Juruni was disappointed with the contribution of his bench.
"The only reason we lost today is we did not get anything from our bench tonight and may be we were very weak defensively. We allowed so many high percentage shots and may be a little bit of complacency" he said.
