Friday REG 108-81 UGB

Saturday IPRC-South 68-62 APR

Women IPRC-South 75-61 APR

Star centre Kami Kabange scored a game high 26 points and 7 rebounds to lead Rwanda Energy Group to an emphatic 108-81 win over United Generation Basketball Club in the StarTimes National Basketball League on Friday evening.

Victory for defending champions took them to the top of the league table with 18 points, one ahead of arch-rivals Patriots, although the later have played a game less.

Patrick Nshizirungu, Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza and Ally Kubwimana added 18, 14 and 10 points respectively to guide for REG to a fourth successive win. It is REG’s eighth win of the season, in 10 games. They have only lost against Patriots and Espoir.

Cyrille Kalima’s team dominated from start—the champions took the first quarter 24-20, the second 19-12 to go into the half-time break leading 43-32 before continuing off where they stopped in the second half, claiming the third quarter 28-16 and wrapped up the game with a 37-33 win the final quarter.

Tony Nijimbere scored joint-game high 26 points and despite getting adequate support from teammates, Emile Uwiringiyimana (19 points) and Deogratias Amani, who dropped 15 points, UGB were just no match for REG on the night.

UGB, with one in the last five games, remain fifth in the table on 14 points with a 3:8 win ration, level on points with IPRC-South, who occupy the fourth and final playoff spot after they stunned APR 68-26 on Saturday in Huye.

Armand Cubahiro led the hosts with a game high 22 points, while teammates Bienvenu Niyonsaba and Medard Muberwa added 11 and 9 points respectively as IPRC-South notched a second win the last give and the fifth in nine games. Eric Munyaneza topped scored for APR with 16 points.

It was double loss for APR, who also saw their women’s team beaten 75-61 by IPRC-South. Nicole Urwibutso led the home with a game-high 23 points, while Charlotte Umugwaneza had 15 points for the visitors.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw