Best-of-five finals

Game 4 Patriots  74-71  REG

Patriots bounced back from Game 3 defeat to beat arch-rivals Rwanda Energy Group (REG) 74-71 in Game 4 on Friday to tie the series to 2-2 ahead of Game 5 slated for August 10.

On Thursday, in Game 3, REG had overcome Patriots in a tightly fought 57-54 narrow victory to take the lead 2-1.

In Friday’s Game 2, Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots took the first quarter 17-13 and second quarter 22-19 to go into half-break with a 39-32.

Returning for the second half, REG snatched the third quarter 20-17 before stealing the final quarter by one point, 19-18. However, the effort to turn tables up was not enough to save the day for Patrick Ngwijuruvugo’s side who are battling for their maiden playoffs title.

Rwanda international and REG forward Elie Kaje posted a game high 24 points while national team skipper Aristide Mugabe inspired Patriots’ victory with 16 points.

Meanwhile in the women’s category, APR beat IPRC-South 70-57 in Game 4 on Friday also to level the series to 2-2 following Thursday’s 63-50 victory in favor of IPRC- South.

APR captain Charlotte Umugwaneza scored a game high 22 points on Friday.

Rwanda international Nicole Urwibutso led IPRC-South’s scorers with 20 points.

The title-determining Game 5 fixtures in both categories – men and women – will be played on August 10 at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw