Patriots begin FIBA-African Zone 5 title bid with big win

Today: MenABC (Tz) Vs KPA (Ken) 8am Patriots Vs Savio (Tz) 12pmCity Oilers (Ug) vs Hawasa City (Eth) 6pmBetway Power (Ug) Vs Gondar City (Eth) 8pm WomenAPR Vs Don Bosco (Tz) 10amKCCA (Ug) Vs Equity (Ken) 2pmUCU (Ug) Vs KPA (Ken) 4pm Sunday, selected results Men: Group AHawusa 43-110 Patriots Women KCCA 57-45 APR RWANDA’s Patriots Basketball Club kicked off their quest for a first FIBA Africa Zone 5 Championship title by demolishing Hawusa City of Ethiopia 110-43 on Sunday. The week-long tournament started on Sunday and will run until October 7 at Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala, Uganda. However, Rwanda’s representative in the women’s category, APR, lost the opener, 45-57 at the hands of the favourites Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA). Charles Mbazumutima’s team returns to action Monday morning, when they face Don Bosco of Tanzania. Making their third appearance in a row at the East Africa’s flagship tournament, Patriots played the game with high energy and Hawasa City were no-march for Henry Mwinuke’s side that led 50-28 at half time before sealing a thumping victory with a 60-15 win the second half. The 2016 Rwandan national league champions face Savio from Tanzania in the second game in Monday, starting at 12pm. In the same group (A), title holders City Oilers of Uganda, will take on Hawasa City at 6pm. The tournament has attracted 15 teams; eight in men and seven in the women’s category, coming from six countries namely; Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda and hosts Uganda. Egypt and Burundi did not send any representatives. The men’s teams have been drawn in two groups of 4 teams each. Group A includes; defending champions City Oilers of Uganda, Rwanda’s Patriots, Savio (Tanzania) and Ethiopia’s Hawasa City, while Group B comprises Betway Power (Uganda), KPA (Kenya), ABC from Tanzania and Gonder City of Ethiopia. The seven women’s teams will play against each other on a round-robin basis. The female teams in the competition are APR (Rwanda), Don Bosco (Tanzania), Horseed (Somalia), UCU and KCCA of Uganda and as well as Equity and KPA of Kenya. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Sports

Patriots begin FIBA-African Zone 5 title bid with big win