Patriots, Espoir in action as basketball league returns

FridayEspoir vs 30-Plus 6pmPatriots vs IPRC-Kigali 8pm SaturdayAPR vs IPRC-South 1pm WomenUbumwe vs IPRC-South 11am SundayRusizi vs REG 9amUGB vs CSK 1pm WomenThe Hoops vs UR-Huye 11am The national basketball league resumes this weekend after a three-week break, starting with two Friday night games at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. The league had been temporarily suspended by FERWABA on April 1 so as to join other Rwandans in commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi that started on April 7 and ended on April 13. Former league champions and title hopefuls Espoir will take on lowly 30-Plus in the first game of the day, starting at 6pm before reigning champions Patriots face IPRC-Kigali, at 8pm. Maxime Mwiseneza’s Espoir, who are third on the table, will be looking to win to keep pressure on leaders Patriots. Espoir have lost three of the eleven games they have played so far this season. Their opponents, 30-Plus, who are second from bottom, will be aiming to make improvements following a dismal run in the first round. They have won just one out of eleven games. Meanwhile, Patriots lead the table with 21 points from eleven games, while the Kicukiro-based IPRC-Kigali are fourth with 17 points having played a game less. Patriots have lost one game this season; ironically that 80-75 loss was against IPRC-Kigali in January. On Saturday, APR will take on IPRC-South at Amahoro Indoor Stadium and on Sunday eighth-placed Rusizi will host second-placed Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in Rusizi, while winless Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) will be up against United Generation Basketball (UGB) at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Patriots, Espoir in action as basketball league returns