Ubumwe look to defend title as basketball league returns

UBUMWE basketball club have turned their focus to retaining the women’s league title after claiming the inaugural Heroes Day tournament on Sunday. The 2015 season’s champions both in men and women’s categories slated to kick-off on Saturday, 7 February. Ubumwe won the Heroes Day Cup after defeating seven-time league champions APR 61-52 with American-born point-guard Lisanne Comeau scoring a game high 18 points. In the men’s final, Mike Buzangu of CSK scored 31 points but that didn’t stop his side from losing 81-61 to Espoir. Ubumwe, who dethroned APR from the league helm last season, will be looking to bag the second consecutive league title as well as representing the country well at this year’s continental club championships, according to head coach Jacques Bahige. “We are happy with the Heroes Day Cup triumph, however there is no time to relax. The league starts next weekend and we want to retain the crown which won’t be easy, but we will do everything in our capacity to do so,” Bahige said. In a separate interview, Lisanne Comeau told this newspaper,” I have no particular secret behind the MVP award-winning performance, It’s just working hard together as a team. I’m looking forward for an even more entertaining league campaign.” Aristide Mugabe, Espoir’s captain, grabbed the men’s competition MVP award with former Rwanda international Mike Buzangu scooping the top-scorer’s award after netting 86 pionts while Rosine Micomyiza from RAPP won the MVP award in the women’s category, having grabbed 58 points. Comeau, who is in Rwanda since October last year, will be making her league debut with Ubumwe and believes her side has got all it takes to be 2015 champions.

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Ubumwe look to defend title as basketball league returns