Patriots and RSSB Tigers kept their Rwanda Basketball League title hopes alive after securing crucial Game 4 victories over Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and APR respectively at Petit Stade on Wednesday night.

A victory for either APR or REG would have secured a place in the finals, but Patriots and Tigers responded with important wins to level their best-of-five semi-final series at 2-2.

Patriots bounce back

Patriots levelled their semi-final series against REG at 2-2 after defeating the defending champions 72-61 in Game 4.

REG made the stronger start, winning the opening quarter 24-20, but Patriots responded in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 12-9 to cut the deficit to one point. REG went into half-time leading 33-32.

The third quarter remained closely contested, with REG edging it 17-16 to take a two-point advantage into the final period.

Patriots, however, produced a strong finish, dominating the fourth quarter 24-11 to complete the comeback and force a decisive Game 5.

Patriots guard Jeffrey Tyrone Stubbs led all scorers with 21 points, while Hervé Irakoze and centre Garba Chingka Kennedy added 12 and 11 points respectively.

Tigers edge APR in thriller

Earlier in the evening, RSSB Tigers also forced their semi-final series against APR into a winner-takes-all Game 5 after edging the army side 96-94.

Tigers bounced back from a 96-85 defeat to APR in Game 3 on Tuesday night to level the series at 2-2.

Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua was instrumental in the victory, finishing with a game-high 27 points to keep the RSSB-sponsored side in contention for a place in the finals.

Game 5 of both semi-final series will be played at Petit Stade on Friday, August 14, with the winners securing their places in the championship finals.

Women’s playoffs

In the women’s category, Kepler moved ahead 2-1 in their semi-final series after defeating The Hoops Rwanda 47-34 in Game 3.

Meanwhile, REG reclaimed the lead in their series against APR, winning Game 3 by an 84-73 margin to move 2-1 ahead.