SundayRusizi 51-105 REG

SaturdayIPRC-South 58-75 REG

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball club coach Cyrille Kalima has commended his players for their impressive performance over the weekend against IPRC-South and Rusizi, which saw them go top of the league’s table standings.

The defending champions beat IPRC-South 75-58 on Saturday before walloping bottom-placed and still winless Rusizi BBC 105-51 on Sunday.

After three games, REG remain the only unbeaten side in the league this season with a maximum six points, one point ahead of second-placed IPRC- South and Patriots, who are in third.

Rwanda international Kami Kabange, the 2017 MVP, lead REG with a combined 67 points in both games, including 32 points against IPRC-South and 35 against struggling Rusizi.

"We had a great weekend, the two away victories are very important to our league’s title defence. Credit goes to the players for a job well done; they played with determination and focus. This is the consistency we need if we’re to win trophies,” Kalima told Times Sport on Monday.

But the former APR player warned that, "It’s still too early in the season, there is a long way to go, but a good beginning is essential. Our target is to win a treble, but focusing on one game at a time.”

REG will represent the country at the 2018 FIBA Africa Zone 5 Club Championships, making their debut at the annual regional competition, which was last won by a Rwandan side (Espoir) in 2012.

"The team we are building is not for one season or for only local competitions, we are keen on conquering the region. We are looking forward to a good debut in Zone 5 Championships,” Kalima noted.

Despite winning almost every tournament they competed in last season, REG were busy in the recent transfer window, signing key players including Rwanda internationals Olivier Shyaka (from Espoir) and Walter Nkurunziza (from Patriots).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw