Today

Finals, Game 4IPRC-South vs Patriots 6pm

Third placeEspoir vs IPRC-Kigali 4pm

Friday: Game 3Patriots 67-72 IPRC-South

They may have come into the finals as rank outsiders to win the title but IPRC-South are one win away from being crown the basketball playoffs champions after they overcame league champions Patriots 72-67 in Game 3 on Friday night at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Should Charles Mushumba’s Huye-based side win Game 4 this evening, they will be champions for the first time in their short history, dethroning Jean Bahufite’s Espoir, who have won the competition for the last four years.

With best-of-five series tied at 1-1 going into Game 3, Patriots looked to be in the commanding position, taking the first quarter 19-14 but Mushumba’s refused to let go, fighting back very hard to claim the next three quarters; 18-14, 18-15 and 22-19, to boost chances for a historic first major title.

Fabrice Rukundo (16pts), skipper Bienvenue Niyonsaba (16 pts) and Sunny Niyomugabo (15pts) combined for a total 47 points for the winners while Walter Nkurunziza topped Patriots’ scoring sheet with 15 points. Jean de Dieu Ntagunduka and Elie Kaje added 14 and 13 points each.

Game 4 between Patriots and hopefuls IPRC-South will be preceded by Game 3 of the third-place series, pitting holders Espoir and IPRC-Kigali at the same venue. Espoir defeated IPRC-Kigali 86-85 in Game 1 but the later turned tables to take Game 2; 71-69 last Monday night.

Ubumwe basketball club have already retained the title for a third consecutive time after overpowering league champions APR 3-0 in the best-of-five finals series.

Meanwhile, the national U18 team beat select side made of Rwandans living in the United States, 51-24 in a highly entertaining friendly game on Friday night. Moise Mutombali’s boys dominated all the four quarters; 16-9, 12-2, 9-3 and 14-10 respectively.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw