Friday, September 13
Game 2: APR 101-93 Patriots (series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Sunday, September 15 at BK Arena
Before his cheering mother, power forward Axel Mpoyo rose to the occasion and scored 27, 7 rebounds and 2 assists as APR avoided a late comeback in 101-93 overtime win over Patriots to claim Game 2 of the betPawa Finals on Friday, September 13.
APR were already 12 points up at the end of the first quarter which they won 30-18. While Patriots looked not ready yet to hit the ground running, the ‘Lions’ extended the lead to 22 points after claiming the second quarter 27-17 leaving their fans inside BK Arena filled with hope that they would easily win Game 2 and keep their championship hopes alive.
It was, however, Patriots’ second half. They returned to action looking like wounded lions after Henry Mwinuka’s half time talk. APR started the third quarter without their star man Isaiah Miller who already had two fouls in two quarters; and Patriots took advantage of his absence.
They reduced the deficit to 12 points after winning the third quarter 27-17. Mwinuka had briefed his players to man mark APR and it worked to great effect. Mpoyo, who scored 18 points alone in the first half, finished the third quarter without a single point in the bucket.
But chances of a comeback for Patriots faded when Dieudonne Ndizeye was taken off to undergo medical treatment after Jean Jacques Nshobozwa’s hand hit him in the face.
The team, however, refused to give up and, thanks to great exploits by Branch Stephaun and support from cheering fans in the stroke of the final quarter, Patriots rose to the top and completed a comeback.
With Ndizeye back after treatment, they toppled APR and had their deficit reduced to just 2 points with 12 seconds to play.
And it was Kamndoh Betoudji Frank who scored the last bucket to tie the game 86-86 with 2 seconds to play. Miller tried a 3-pointed but he was unlucky.
Only a few could believe how Patriots came from 22 points down in the first half to force the game into overtime.
The only they got wrong was thinking that the job was already done. But APR coach James Maye told his players stay focused until the last second and it worked for the in overtime which they won 15-6 to claim the game.
Branch was again in his prime as he again led the scoring with 30 points but it wasn’t Patriots’ night. They lost Game 2 when they were favorite to win it. But there are more five games to play.
The finals series are now tied 1-1 and Sunday’s Game 3 at BK Arena will decide who finishes the week leading the series.