Basketball playoffs: REG edge closer to second league title

Friday Men REG 63-62 Patriots Women APR 55-54 The Hoops Rwanda Energy Group (REG) are one victory away from clinching the 2018/2019 title of the Bank of Kigali National Basketball League after beating Patriots in Game 4 of the playoffs finals on Friday. The 2017 champions overcame defending champions Patriots 63-62 at Amahoro Indoor Stadium to edge closer to their second championship. Igor Kovacevic’s men have had a stunning turnaround since losing Game 1 on August 9, having bounced back to win the next three games. In Friday’s hard-fought victory, Elie Kaje led his side with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, while Beleck Bell and Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. “We are in a good position for the title, but it’s not done yet. We need to remain focused, there is no time to relax,” Kaje said after inspiring REG to their third successive win over Henry Mwinuka’s Patriots. The two local giants face-off again in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series on September 11, with REG looking to claim the title while holders Patriots will be seeking to force the finals into Game 6, and probably, also, in the tie-breaking Game 7. In the meantime, APR have leveled 2-2 the women’s finals after beating The Hoops Rwanda 55-54 in Game 4, on Friday. The military side had also won Game 1 earlier last month, whilst The Hoops claimed Game 2 and 3. Patriots (men) and IPRC-South (women) are the reigning champions. The latter did not make it to this season’s finals. Bank of Kigali are the main sponsors of the local basketball league since entering into a three-year sponsorship deal with Rwanda Basketball Federation, worth Rwf300 million in November 2018. editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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Basketball playoffs: REG edge closer to second league title