Sunday Final: (Men) Espoir (Rwa) 85-48 Muzinga (Bur) Women Belco Stars (Bur) 67-55 Magic Stormers (Uga) Third place (Women) Ubumwe (Rwa) 67-64 RAPP (Rwa) Veterans (Men) Espoir 39-32 CSK Semi-finals (men) Muzinga 72-71 CSK Espoir 79-74 City Oilers (Uga) Espoir claimed this year’s Gisembe Genocide memorial basketball tournament on Sunday as Burundi’s Belco Stars won the women’s title. Rwanda’s two-time reigning league champions Espoir clinched the title after easily beating Burundi’s army side Muzinga 85-48 in the final on Sunday. Last year’s winners Urunani from Burundi didn’t come to defend their title. Belco Stars beat Magic Stormers from Uganda 67-55 to take the women’s crown. In men’s final, it was a revenge for Espoir, who had lost 66-59 to Muzinga in the group stages on Friday. Espoir small forward Lionnel Hakizimana was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the Men’s competition after finishing the three-day tournament with a total of 88 points from four games. In the women’s category, Belco Stars’ Priscilla Dodo with 54 points and Ines Nezerwa claimed the top scorer and MVP awards respectively. MVP Hakizimana in an emotionally post-game interview said, “I’m really humbled for the awards (top scorer and MVP), I did not think I would make it but with Espoir basketball family, we made it possible.”
