Playoffs finals: Hoops eye Game 2 win to level series

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Yvonne Iradukunda

Game 1 between The Hoops and APR, which the latter won 56-52, was the first game played in the state-of-the-art Kigali Arena. The 10,000-seater facility will host finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) next year. / Courtesy

Game 2 fixtures (Friday) Women APR Vs The Hoops 19:00

Men Patriots Vs REG 21:00

Moise Mutokambali, head coach of the Hoops Rwanda women basketball team, has tipped his side to bounce back in Game 2 of the ongoing playoff games finals after losing – to APR – the opening game earlier this month.

The two sides face-off in Game 2 Friday night at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, starting at 7pm.

APR narrowly claimed Game 1 56-52, in what the first game to be played in the newly inaugurated Kigali Arena. President Paul Kagame and the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, watched the game.

Speaking to Times Sport on Thursday, Mutokambali challenged his players to go into Game 2 as the title depends on it, emphasizing that the ‘must-win’ game would give them a fighting chance in the quest for their first league title.

"We are not allowed to take any chances in Game 2; it’s a must-win,” Mutokambali said. "It would be hard to recover if we lose again on Friday (today), we will do everything possible to level the series and then take it from there going forward, one a game at a time.”

However, Mutokambali’s side will have to deal with APR without two key players Sifa Ineza Jouyeuse and Hope Butera who recently landed scholarships to further their university studies in the United States.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com