Saturday
Best of Rwanda 72-43 Best of Burundi
Point guard Ntore Habimana was in top form as his game high 14 points powered the Best of Rwanda to a convincing 72-43 victory over the Best of Burundi at BK Arena on Saturday.
Burundian players, led by Guibert Nijimbere, traveled with their fans to Kigali with great motivation days after beating Rwanda with a nail-biting 76-73 win in the first leg held in Bujumbura on December 2 before Rwanda overturned the result in Kigali on Saturday in grand style.
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Saturday's game started in favour of the Burundians who won the first quarter 18-15. However, it did not take long for Henry Mwinuka’s men to make a comeback, claiming the second quarter 21-5 to go into half-time with a 36-23 lead.
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Best of Burundi fought back to win the third quarter 14-12 as they pushed to narrow the deficit shortly after halftime but the likes of Habimana, Williams Robeyns and Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza made great combinations between them help the home team win the fourth quarter 24-6 to take home the victory before thousands of home supporters.
Habimana starred with a game high 14 points as William Robeyns and Nshobobozwa added 13 and 12 points respectively.
While the Best of Rwanda won the inaugural edition of the basketball competition, both Habimana and Dieudonne Ndizeye Ndayisaba won a cash prize of Rwf600,000 each as Skills Challenge Contest and 3 Point Contest winners respectively.
Initiated in 2023 by B&B Sports Agency in partnership with basketball governing bodies in Burundi (FEBABU) and Rwanda (FERWABA), the contest brings together teams of the best performing players in basketball leagues from both countries where they compete against each other during off-season.
Before the match, officials from both federations, the City of Kigali, Burundian Embassy in Rwanda and B&B Sports Agency planted trees during the community service ‘Umuganda’ held at FAWE Girls School Gisozi in Gasabo District.