Espoir, Ubumwe win Game 1 in playoffs finals

Defending champions Espoir BC edged closer to retaining their men’s basketball playoffs title after emerging victors in Game 1 against CSK 59-51 on Friday at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Friday, August 15, 2014
Bienvenu Ngandu of Espoir, right, goes up for a defensive rebound against CSK in Game 1 yesterday at Amahoro indoor stadium. Sam Ngendahimana

Friday: 

Men: Game 1

Espoir 59-51 CSK

Women

Ubumwe 64-37 RAPP

Today: Game 2

Women

RAAP  vs Ubumwe 3pm

Men

Espoir  vs CSK 5pm

Defending champions Espoir BC edged closer to retaining their men’s basketball playoffs title after emerging victors in Game 1 against CSK 59-51 on Friday at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Game 2 is due today at the same venue while Game 3 is set for Sunday. If Jean Bahufite’s Espoir win today and tomorrow, they will be crowned champions for the third season running.

Olivier Shyaka of Espoir scored the game high 24 points and was well supported by team mates Bienvenue Ngandu and Olivier Karekezi, who added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

After the game, Bahufite said: "I am happy we won but we didn’t play so well today, we must work on a few mistakes we made and make sure we don’t repeat them tomorrow (today). We want to win the series this weekend but it’s not easy to play three games in one weekend.”

In the women’s category, league champions Ubumwe beat rivals Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP) 64-37 in Game 1. The teams face off again in Game 2 today.