Wednesday

APR 73-63

Rwanda Basketball league title hopefuls APR again beat Rwanda Energy Group (REG) 73-63 on Wednesday night, August 9, at Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium to make it 2-0 over the reigning champions this season and move at the top of the table standing.

The army side looked so dominant throughout the game with a visibly strengthened roster after making major trades in Prince Ibeh, De Marcus Holland and Robbeyns Williams who were all included in the starting five against a REG side which was without shooting Cleveland Thomas Jr following his move to Mexican side Dorados Chihuahua.

The likes of star point guard Adonis Filer and Pitchou Manga were at the top of their game but their services weren’t enough to overcome Mazen Trakh‘s men any how.

APR won the first two quarters 21-17, 24-20 respectively to take control of the game with an eight-point lead at the break.

Back in the second half, the team was very determined and well-organized defensively to win the third quarter 13-12 and last quarter 15-24 to comfortably take home the win.

ALSO READ: APR, REG go head-to-head in basketball league

Holland posted a team high 15 points for APR, while Congolese guard Fula Nganga and forward Ntore Habimana contributed 14 points each.

Meanwhile, Filer finished the game leading the scores with 24 points despite being on the losing side.

APR now top the table standings with 38 points are level on points with REG and Patriots who are second and third respectively.

Another major test awaits APR on Friday when they go head to head with Patriots who reinforced their rosters with Georgian-American point guard Michael Dixon, Canadian-Rwandan Jean Victor Mukama and Sudanese-Lebanese center Ater Majok now in town and ready to show their class during the rest of the league campaign.

American forward Germaine Roebuck Jr is also back in the roster which he was part of before he signed a short-term deal to play for Ugandan powerhouse City Oilers during the 2023 Basketball Africa League.

The league is currently in its second round after which the playoffs will be played among the top four teams. The semifinals will be played in a best of five series, while the finals will be in a best of seven format.

Ranking

APR 38 points

REG 38 points

Patriots 38 points

Espoir 36 points

Kigali Titans 34 points

ORION 34 points

Tigers BBC 33 points

UGB 32 points

IPRC-Huye 26 points

Shoot for The Stars BBC 25 points

IPRC-Kigali 24 points

IPRC-Musanze 23 points