FIBA-Africa Zone V: Espoir plot to stun City Oilers for semis slot

By Geoffrey Asiimwe in Dar-es-Salaam Today selected fixtures Men: Group A USIU (KEN) vs Patriots (Rwa) 12pm Group B City Oilers (UG) vs Espoir (Rwa) 2pm Women Ubumwe(Rwa) vs Don Bosco Lioness (TZ) 4pm Espoir basketball club take on Uganda’s City Oilers today in their final Group B game seeking to win and qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing FIBA-Africa Club Championships in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The Rwandan side squandered the chance to advance to semi-finals on Monday after losing their second game against Kenya’s Ulinzi and go into today’s game needing nothing less than a win against their City Oilers, who have already advanced to the next stage as group leaders with nine points in three games. The 2012 champions Espoir and Kenya’s Ulinzi are second and third respectively in this group with six points each. Only the top two in each group advance to the last four. “We were unlucky to lose the game against Ulinzi, it affected our chances but we have City Oilers up next, game that will be even tougher, you could day this our final,” said Espoir head coach Aime Kharim Nkusi. He noted that, “We know City Oilers well because we have played twice before; they are a good side bit enough we rested yesterday (Tuesday) and took time to brief the players about the significance of winning this game.” The two clubs first met during the 2014/15 Gisembe memorial tournament in Kigali when Espoir defeated the Kampala-based club in the semi-finals before meeting again in the semi-finals of 2015 FIBA-Africa Zone v Club tourney and City Oilers had the revenge. Meanwhile in other game, Patriots, who have already qualified to the last four in Group A, face ISIU of Kenya also seeking to win and finish on top their group. In the women fray, after suffering their second defeat at the hands of ISIU 81-74 yesterday, Ubumwe basketball club will be hoping to bounce back today against Don Bosco Lioness of Tanzania at 4pm. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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FIBA-Africa Zone V: Espoir plot to stun City Oilers for semis slot