Saturday

Men

Espoir 65-58 IPRC-SouthU18 Boys Team 37-54 APRUGB 34-67 PatriotsUR-CASS 68-51 CSK

Women

UR-CASS 50-68 APR

Olivier Shyaka scored 22 points to lead defending champions Espoir to a crucial win over archrivals IPRC-South in an eagerly-awaited national basketball league game played on Saturdayafternoon at Amahoro indoor stadium court.

It was one of the most anticipated league games of the season, and it didn’t disappoint, in-front of an almost fully packed Amahoro indoor stadium.

Visibly in great shape and well prepared, Espoir was the better side for most of the game and it was a deserved victory for Jean Bahufite’s team.

The four-time reigning champions won the first quarter 22-12 and the second 19-16 to go into half-time with a convincing 41-28 lead.

Back for the second-half, title hopefuls IPRC-South looked energetic and ready to turn tables, claiming the third quarter 12-6.

Both sides scored 19 points each in the fourth quarter for the game to end 65-58 in favour of the Nyamirambo-based Espoir, and who were also the home team.

Rwanda international Shyaka scored a game high 22 points, teammate Fabrice Uwiringiyimana added 21 to guide the 2012 FIBA Zone V champions to sweet revenge against Huye-based outfit, who defeated them 64-56 in the first round last month.

Sunny Niyomugabo and Yesman Bushiri scored 13 and 11 points respectively for Didier Bineza’s side, who were looking to become the first team to complete a league double over Espoir in five years.

Elsewhere, Henry Mwinuka’s Patriots BBC stretched their league unbeaten run to 10 games this season, beating UGB 67-34 at the same venue.

Unbeaten Patriots lead the standings with 20 points, IPRC-South are second with 18 points, level with Espoir in third place.

In the women’s league, defending champions APR extended their winning ratio to 5:0, thumping hosts UR- College of Arts and Social Sciences (UR-CASS) 68-50 at UR- Huye Campus gymnasium.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw