Patriots face IPRC-South in hoops league

Today Men UGB vs IPRC-Kigali 2pm Patriots vs IPRC-South 4pm Women APR vs UR-CASS 11am Sunday Men Rusizi vs CSK 9am Espoir vs APR 10am Women The Hoops vs Ubumwe 10am Two title hopefuls Patriots and IPRC-South lock horns today in what is regarded as match of the national basketball season so far. The game will be at Amahoro indoors stadium court. It is a super weekend for local basketball admirers as four-time reigning champions Espoir will also be up against the 2010 champions, APR, on Sunday at 10am at the same venue. Last season’s regular league and play-off games first runners-up Patriots basketball club will be keen to extend their good run against the league’s top guns—the Kagugu-based club last weekend, hammered former champions Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) 83-40. CSK finished fourth last season. On the other hand, Huye-based IPRC-South, who beat United Generation Basketball (UGB) 89-45 in the league opener a fortnight ago, are optimistic on getting the better of over Patriots. Both sides met in the semi-finals of the pre-season tournament three weeks ago which IPRC-South won en-route to winning the tournament after stunning defending champions, Espoir in the final. Last season, IPRC-South won the regular season first round game 62-45 and Patriots made amends in the second round winning 69-56. Speaking to Saturday Sport, IPRC-South head coach Didier Bineza admitted that the game will be tough but is not a season decider for either side. “The game carries a lot for both teams, Patriots seeking for revenge while we also fight to prove that our win in the pre-season tournament wasn’t a fluke. Winning the game would be a good motivation factor for the rest of the season,” the tactician said. Marking their second season in the national basketball league, IPRC-South, who have already established their name among serious contenders of the league this season, are also reigning champions of the inter-universities championship. In a separate interview, Patriots BBC newly-appointed head coach Henry Mwinuka said he has full respect for IPRC-South and they will be hard to overcome, but tips his side to do the needful. The Tanzanian trainer said: “I can’t say the game will be easy for us but we are ready for the battle, all players are available except Walter Nkurunziza, who has fever. We will do our best to win the game.” Mwinuka will also be looking forward to handing debuts to his new signing star duo of point-guard Aristide Mugabe and forward Ellie Kaje, who crossed from four-time reigning champions Espoir in the close season.

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Patriots face IPRC-South in hoops league