IPRC-South sign five, vow to challenge for league title

National basketball championship side IPRC-South have signed five new players ahead of the 2015/2016 season as they bid to challenge for the league title. The Huye-based club impressed in their maiden campaign to finish fifth in the ten-team league table with 28 points behind champions Espoir (35 points), Patriots (32), APR (31) and CSK (31) respectively. Among the five new signings is Rwanda international Sunny Niyomugabo, who signed from Patriots on a one-year contract. Others include; Shooting guard Fabrice Rukundo from Burundi’s New Stars, forward Didier Ishimwe, point-guard Didier Abimana and center Erick Shyaka from APR basketball club. “We are thrilled to have Niyomugabo at the club, he is a great player, in fact one of the best centers in the country. His energetic play, vast experience and leadership on court are a huge boost for us next season,” IPRC-South head coach Didier Bineza told Times Sport on Thursday. He noted that, “Apart from him (Niyomugabo), we have also signed four other quality players to strengthen our squad as we seek to challenge for the league title.” Former APR vice-captain Niyomugabo joined Patriots at the start of last season and was a key figure in helping the club to reach the play-off where they lost 3-1 to eventual champions Espoir in the best-of-five series. Last Saturday, IPRC-South defeated Cyrille Kalima’s Patriots 71-64 in pre-season game in Huye as part of both teams’ preparations for the season starting on November 14. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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IPRC-South sign five, vow to challenge for league title