Friday REG 65-74 Patriots IPRC-Kigali 77-77 IPRC-South

Patriots head coach Henry Mwinuka has heaped praise on his players following Friday night’s 74-65 win over Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in the Bank of Kigali National Basketball League.

Small forward Dieudonne Ndizeye, with 18 points, inspired the defending champions to their second victory over leaders REG this season, while Ally Ruzigande and skipper Aristide Mugabe added 16 and 13 points, respectively.

However, despite the victory, Patriots remained in second position with 28 points and a game in hand, while Patrick Ngwijuruvugo’s REG stayed at the summit with 30 points.

Speaking to Sunday Sport in a post-match interview, Mwinuka said that the victory was ‘a great boost of morale’ ahead of the play-off games as his side step up their bid for a third championship in four years.

"It was a tough game, against a strong opponent. I’m happy and satisfied with the boys’ performance tonight. They executed well our game plan.”

"Beating the leaders twice in a season is a great boost of morale and that will help us as we prepare for the playoff games.”

National team captain Olivier Shyaka scored a game-high 19 points, but his one-man effort was not enough to save REG from a second defeat to Patriots this season, having also outclassed them 82-78 in the first-leg meeting last December.

Patriots will wrap up the 2018-19 regular season against University of Rwanda’s Huye Campus team on Saturday, May 18.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com