SundayHoops playoffs semifinalsMen: Game 2Espoir vs REG 6pmIPRC-Kigali vs Patriots 8pmWomen: Game 2The Hoops vs APR 2pmUbumwe vs IPRC-South 4pmFridayMen: Game 1REG 63-60 EspoirPatriots 87-79 IPRC-Kigali

Champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball club and Patriots will be hoping to seal a final spot when they take on their opponents in the second game of the best-of-three at the ongoing 2017 basketball playoffs.

Both sides won their first games on Friday when the playoffs officially started and each side requires only one win to progress to the finals slated to start on Friday.

Debutant REG fresh from winning their first league title overcome former giants Espoir in the first highly contested game 63-60, thanks to center player Kami Kabange’s 24 points that saw coach Jean Bahufite defeat his former side.

REG took the first quarter 15-9 before Maxime Mwiseneza’s side finding their way back into the game to claim the second quarter 16-13. A vigor Espoir even took the third quarter 13-11 but REG denied a chance to take a lead in the fourth quarter by winning it 24-22 hence wrapping up the game with 63-60.

If they win today, they will qualify for the final however if Espoir wins, a decisive game will be played on Monday.

Meanwhile in the other game, Patriots defeated reigning Heroes’ Day champions IPRC-Kigali 87-79 with their own point guard Cedar Sagamba the best scorer with 21 points.

They comfortable took the first quarter 27-19 but lost the second and third one 13-17 and 25-28 before turning the game back onto their head in the fourth quarter claiming it 22-15 to win the game with a tally of 87-79.

They also need to win today’s game to qualify for the final since losing it would force a third decisive game on Monday.

In the ladies’ fray, The Hoops will take on APR while IPRC-South will faceoff Ubumwe today in game two.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw