APR Basketball Club dominated Kepler with a commanding 105-80 victory in the Rwanda Basketball League, extending their perfect 4-0 record and securing the top spot.
A decisive 15-point advantage in the second quarter paved the way for APR’s triumph in the game played on Thursday, February 6, at Petit Stade.
The back-to-back defending champions led Kepler by nine points in the first quarter (26-17). However, a dominant second quarter (37-22) widened the gap significantly, making it difficult for Kepler to stage a comeback.
In a high-scoring game filled with three-pointers, Kepler managed to edge APR in the third quarter (24-23), momentarily halting APR’s momentum as they rotated their entire roster.
By the final quarter, APR had the win in sight, letting their bench play more. They outscored Kepler 19-17 in the last period, sealing the game at 105-80.
All APR players saw at least 10 minutes of action, with Ali Kazingufu being the only one who didn’t score. Aliou Diarra led the game with 27 points on an efficient 11-14 shooting, while Osborn Shema recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Kepler, missing two key players—Olivier Turatsinze and Chad Bowie Jordan, both former league MVPs—relied heavily on Imani Rutayisire and Herve Irakoze.
The duo combined for 40 points, scoring 20 each, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent Kepler from suffering their second consecutive league defeat.
APR shot 43-75 from the field, including 10-31 from beyond the arc, while Kepler went 29-74, making 11-28 from three-point range. APR dominated the paint with 66 points compared to Kepler’s 32.
With the win, APR maintains their perfect 4-0 start, followed by REG at 3-0. Kepler now stands at 1-2.
Both teams will return to action on Sunday, February 9, at LDK, with APR facing UGB and Kepler taking on Espoir.
