May 2, 2023

Roebuck Jr appreciative of City Oilers opportunity

Germaine Roebuck Jr. was an x-factor for City Oilers throughout the BAL qualifying rounds, and he remains as impactful in the 2023 Nile Conference.

He says he is just thankful for the opportunity of playing in a league that he calls as a platform to showcase his talent to the world.

“As a player [the BAL] means a lot to me. It’s an opportunity to show the world that Africa has basketball talent,” Roebuck Jr. emphasized.

“[Some] People feel like Uganda was not supposed to be here but when they see us play and step on the court we are going to shock everybody,” Roebuck Jr. said days before the start of the Nile Conference.

He couldn’t be more accurate.

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 29: Germaine Roebuck Jr. #14 of The City Oilers shoots the ball during the game against the Al Ahly on April 29, 2023 at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)

Two games into their BAL debut, City Oilers look like a team that could go places.

Losses to title contenders Al Ahly and Petro de Luanda exemplified how competitive City Oilers can be.

They fought back a 33-point deficit to eventually lose 72-70 to host Al Ahly.

That two-point loss says volumes about the Oilers’ combative spirit.

“We came as underdogs. We came in hungry and ready to play,” the 6’5 combo guard explained.

Although he had a subpar performance in his BAL debut, after shooting 3 for 13 to go with 6 points against Petro de Luanda, he displayed his best two days later.

Roebuck Jr. was 12 for 18 from the floor to lead all players in scoring with 28 points while adding a game-high of 11 rebounds against Al Ahly.

“If we play the way played in the second half [against Al Ahly] we can beat any team in this conference.”

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 27: Germaine Roebuck Jr. #14 of The City Oilers looks on during the game against the Petro de Luanda on April 27, 2023 at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Oilers and Roebuck Jr. began their BAL journey in November 2022 in Dar es Salaam, where they won two of their three qualifying games.

A month later, in Johannesburg, during the Elite 16 Round, Roebuck Jr. and Co. secured the last of three remaining tickets for the 2023 BAL season after beating Burundi champions Urunani.

“We made an amazing noise in the tournament for the second round in Johannesburg,” he recalled.

Asked to talk about his BAL expectations, Roebuck Jr. said people should expect “a lot of wins, a lot of fight and a lot of adversity; that’s what people can expect from us. We are going to come ready to play.”

Born in US, Roebuck has recently became an Ugandan naturalized citizen.

With a wide smile he insisted that he was already looking forward to his first national team call-up.

“That’s my goal to actually play for the country and represent Uganda,” he said.

About his adoptive country, Roebuck Jr. noted that it was “Easy to adjust. They are very, very respectful people. Uganda is very nice and they make you feel like home.”