Basketball: APR, Kepler crowned 2024 Legacy Tournament winners
Sunday, January 28, 2024
APR Basketball Club are winners of the 2024 Legacy Tournament. The army side beat United Generation Basketball (UGB) at BK Arena on Saturday, January 27, to claim the title-Photo by Dan Gatsinzi

Saturday

Men

APR 89-58 UGB

Women

Kepler 51-47 REG

APR and Kepler basketball clubs were crowned champions of the just –concluded fourth edition of the Legacy Tournament after beating United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) respectively during the men and women finals held at BK Arena on Saturday, January 27.

APR lifted the title in men’s category after seeing off UGB 89-58 in the final.

American guard Michael Dixon and Adonis Filer owned the show for winners APR, scoring 20 and 18 points respectively.

Basketball enthusiasts crowded BK Arena for the finals-Dan Gatsinzi

READ ALSO: Basketball: REG seek to win Legacy Tourney

The army side easily took the first quarter 21-14 and the second 22-16 to go into half-time break leading the game 43-30.

Mazen Trakh’s men continued where they stopped in the first half, taking the third quarter 28-17 and the fourth18-11 to comfortably lift the title with an 89-58 victory.

In women’s category, newcomers Kepler overcame REG with a narrow 51-47 victory to win the tournament, their first silverware since qualifying to play topflight basketball in 2023.

Kepler players surround a REG player to stop her from shooting. Kepler went on to win the final after beating REG 51-47-Dan Gatsinzi

Dixon was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize in men’s category Kepler’s Nelly Nsanzabaganwa took home the same prize in women category, particularly thanks to their outstanding performance during the Legacy Tournament.

READ ALSO: Basketball: 13 teams confirmed for Legacy Tourney

The Legacy Tournament is organized annually since 2019 as a special occasion to remember and honour late Aimable Shampiyona and Jean de Dieu Nizeyimana, two personalities who significantly contributed to the growth of basketball at Lycée de Kigali (LDK) and in the country, between 1995 and 2007.

Largely regarded as a champion of sports, Shampiyona passed on in 2004 while Nizeyimana died in October 2007.

Gospel musician Isreal Mbonyi was among thousands who attended the finals of the Legacy Tournament-Dan Gatsinzi

Musician Bruce Melodie was watching from the stands as his team lost the final to APR at BK Arena on Saturday, January 27-Dan Gtasinzi