Friday

Playoffs finals, Game 1

REG    Vs    Patriots

Third place, Game 1

APR     Vs    IPRC- Kigali

Former national basketball league champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG) have sent out a warning to archrivals Patriots that they will be looking for nothing but the club’s first play-offs title when the two giants meet friday in the best-of-five finals.

Holders Patriots and hopefuls REG set date for finals after edging out IPRC- Kigali and APR in semi-finals over the weekend at Amahoro stadium.

Patriots brushed aside the Kicukiro-based side with two consecutive victories; 86-63 on Friday and 85-77 on Saturday respectively, while Patrick Ngwijuruvugo’s REG also overcame APR in two straight wins – 84-79 and 93-61 – on Friday and Saturday in that order.

Speaking to Times Sport in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, REG head coach Ngwijuruvugo said his side is ‘on fire’ and ready to fight for their first play-offs title.

"Our target is to focus on one game at a time and play it as our last, we can’t afford to lose to Patriots in the final again. We need to keep the determination and pace as exhibited in the semi-finals,” the Burundian-born coach warned.

Last year, after failed attempts in 2015 and 2016, Patriots ended the two-year playoffs jinx to lift the title, bouncing back from Game 1 loss (82-75) to win the next three Games; 83-77, 64-54 and 56-52 respectively.

The 2016/2017 league champions are playing the playoffs finals for the second consecutive time while their opponents are in finals for the fourth time running – since 2015.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw