Saturday

IPRC South 45-52 Patriots

Patriots Basketball Club on Saturday claimed their maiden hoops league title after beating their rivals and close challengers Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC-South) 52-45 in a do or die game that took place on Saturday in Huye.

In an intense game that attracted hundreds of fans for both sides, the southern province based side IPRC South looked the favorites to win the game after putting massive pressure on Henry Mwinuka’s side that helped them lead the first two quarters 9-7 and 17-8 respectively.

However, following the break after the first two quarters, Patriots managed to come back into the game and won the third quarter 16-8 and the last one 21-11 hence winning the game on a tally of 52-45 points.

"I am very happy, you know this is my first year as the head Coach and we now the champions, I am very happy for my boys though it was a tense game but I told them to relax and play their game and we managed to fight back and win the game,” said Patriots head Coach Mwinuka after inspiring his side to their first title.

Meanwhile IPRC South tactician Didier Bineza, revealed that they had played a good game but could not cope with intensity in the final two quarters. "Well we knew before that it will not be an easy game for us because Patriots is a strong team, very experienced and I think they deserved to win,” he said

Patriots’ Jean de Dieu Ntagunduka was the best scorer on his side netting 12 times while Olivier Ikishatse scored 13 times for IPRC South.

Patriots finished on top of the table with 34 points followed by four time winner Espoir, third is IPRC South followed by IPRC Kigali each with 32 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw