SundayREG 93-65 Rusizi

SaturdayIPRC-South 64-69 APREspoir 91-31 30-PlusCSK 59-70 Rusizi

FridayPatriots 95-34 UGB

Basketball league new entrants Rwanda Energy Group (REG) registered a perfect start to their 2016/17 campaign defeating Rusizi Basketball Club 93-65, on Saturday, at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

Rusizi took on REG less than 24 hours after playing CSK and went on to claim the first quarter 23-25. However, Jean Bahufite’s side bounced back in the second quarter winning it 20-11 points to go into half time with a 43-36 lead.

REG continued their momentum in the third quarter outscoring the Southern Province-based outfit 21-8, thanks to an excellent showing from shooting guard Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana and centre Bievenue Ngandu. Bahufite’s side showed no mercy in the last quarter dropping in 29 points against Rusizi’s 25 points, hence wrapping up the game 93-65.

REG’s Ngandu contributed a game high 21 points while Rusizi’s Wasolela Bitubi scored 16 points for his side.

After the game, Bahufite said: "It’s a very good start, we did not play well in the first quarter but we managed to improve in the last three quarters. As a new team, we still have a lot to work on.”

Meanwhile, his Rusizi counterpart, Jean Claude Karemera attributed the defeat to fatigue disclosing that: "We tried our best and took the first quarter but players were still tired, we had no time to rest less than 24 after playing against CSK yet our opponents had a week to prepare for the game.” On Saturday, Rusizi had defeated Cercle Sportifs de Kigali (CSK) 70-59.

In other games played on Saturday, APR beat playoffs defending champions IPRC-South 69-64 in Huye, while four-time league winners Espoir maintained their perfect start to the season, humbling 30-Plus 91-31 at CSK court while reigning champions Patriots defeated UGB 95-34 on Friday..

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