Friday

MenEspoir 79-71 IPRC-KigaliUGB 98-95 APR (3 OT)IPRC-South 104-37 CSKU18 Boys Team 47-53 UR-CASS

WomenIPRC-South 49-61 UbumweThe Hoops 49-53 APR

Espoir earned a crucial win over rivals IPRC-Kigali on Friday evening to maintain the pole position in national basketball league at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The four-time reigning champions Espoir overcome a shaky start to win the game, especially after losing the first two quarters 25-18 and 24-14 respectively against to Albert Buhake’s stubborn side.

Whatever coach Jean Bahufite told his players at half-time recess, but Espoir returned for the second-half totally different, looking more energetic. 

The Nyamirambo-based giants claimed the third and fourth quarter 25-11, 20-11 to win the tightly contested game 79-71 to improve to a 11:2 win ratio this season. 

Olivier Shyaka scored the game high 21 points, Patrick Buzangu and Bienvenu Ngandu added 19 and 17 points respectively for the defending champions.

Elsewhere, struggling former champions Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) continued their fall from grace path, suffering a 104-37 humiliation at hands of Didier Bineza’s IPRC-South in Huye district. 

However, the game of the weekend pitted United Generation Basketball (UGB) against another former champions APR. The former won 98-95 in three over-time.

The regular 40-minute time of the match ended with both sides tied on 76 points and the first over-time ended again with both teams tied on 85 points apiece, to take the game in a second over-time in which the teams leveled on 88 points, until the third 5-minute over -time that UGB clinching the 98-95 victory.

Holders Espoir sit at the top of table with 24 points, one ahead of second-placed IPRC- South and two ahead of IPRC-Kigali in third place. Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots are fourth with 21 points but have played two games less.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw