IPRC-South can win hoops league title, says coach

IPRC-South head coach Didier Bineza believes his team has revived their hopes to challenge for the national basketball league title, and is confident his men have what it takes to accomplish the task.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

IPRC-South head coach Didier Bineza believes his team has revived their hopes to challenge for the national basketball league title, and is confident his men have what it takes to accomplish the task.

The Huye-based side are back in the title race after defeating Rusizi 104-65 on Sunday while rivals Patriots lost 71-68 to defending champions Espoir on Friday.

Speaking to Times Sport, Bineza insisted his team is well back in the title race, and the target is to try and win all their remaining seven regular season games, including the clash against Patriots on May 14 in Huye.

"We are back in the race no doubt about that, and I believe we stand a very good chance. Patriots' defeat (against Espoir) is exactly what we wanted.

"But we need to make sure we don't lose any of the remaining league games, we have to focus on one game at a time and treat each (game) like the final," Bineza said on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Bineza, the youngest head coach of the league, added, "We will host them (Patriots) in our last game, so before then, we should not get distracted, it's a game that could determine the next champions."

IPRC-South, who are enjoying their second season in the national league, finished 5th last season, behind Espoir, Patriots, APR and Cercle Sportif de Kigali.

Henry Mwinuka's Patriots top the table standings with 21 points, one point ahead of IPRC-South in second place and third-placed Espoir, who both have 20 points, but the former enjoy a better average score per game. IPRC-Kigali are fourth with 19 points while APR stand fifth with 18.

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