SundayREG vs Rusizi 9am

FridayPatriots 95-34 UGB

National basketball league defending champions Patriots were unstoppable as they routed United Generation Basketball (UGB) 95-34 to register a flying start to their title defense on Friday evening at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. Fresh from also winning the pre-season tournament, two weeks ago, Henry Mwinuka’s team showed no mercy in dispatching the hapless UGB, who also lost their season opener last weekend against APR.

Point guard Aristide Mugabe and shooting guard Chris Walter Nkurunziza each dropped 18 points while forward Sunny Niyomugabo and center player Jean de Dieu Ntagukunduka put on an excellent show on rebounds both defensive and offensive. Patriots won the first quarter 21-9 before UGB made some improvements in the second quarter despite losing it 12-10. The 2016 FIBA-Zone V Club Championship semi-finalists upped their game in the third quarter dropping 35 points while Yves Murenzi’s UGB only managed five points before the champions also claimed fourth quarter 27-10. UGB’s Jacob Louis Mendys was his team’s top scorer nine points while Kamuntu Placide dropped in eight points.

After the game Mwinuka said, "I am very happy for my boys, we played well the first quarter but the second one was very close. We improved our game in the last two quarters playing with no pressure, scoring more points and making as many rebounds.”

Meanwhile on Sunday, newly created Rwanda Energy Group (REG), under the guidance of former Espoir coach Jean Bahufite, will get a taste of what to expect in their league debit when they take on Rusizi Basketball Club at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, 9am.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw