APR BBC banked on a strong third quarter to beat the Patriots 70-63 and go two up in the BetPawa Playoffs semifinals. Demarcus Holland, Ntore Habimana, Axel Mpoyo, and William Robeyns delivered noteworthy contributions to the team’s comeback from a 17-point deficit to victory.

The Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs, rebranded after the tournament’s sponsor BetPawa, are drawing all of the limelight in Kigali. The semifinals between the Patriots and APR look to be a compelling and closely contested series to watch, with APR currently holding the upper hand after their impressive performance in Game 2.

Following a loss in Game 1, the Patriots were in control for much of the game on Friday night and seemed to be in position to win. However, precipitation put them in early foul trouble, costing them the third and fourth quarters as well as the game.

Unlike in Game 1, Mwinuka started with Majok, leaving Gray on the sideline, rather than both of them at the same time, which helped offensively through transition offense.

The Henry Mwinuka-coached team got out to a fast start, overpowering APR in every aspect of the game, winning the first quarter 20-12, and continued to dominate in the second quarter, building a 17-point lead in 1:53′ until Maz Trakh’s APR tallied 7 consecutive points to end the half with the Patriots leading 37-27.

At the moment, the cumulative number of fouls on Henry Mwinuka’s side had already begun to escalate.

Dieudonné Ndizeye had already racked up three personal fouls, including an unsportsmanlike foul, by the start of the third quarter. Kendall Gray and Roebuck Junior each got three fouls too. Mwinuka had no option other than to alter his squad at the time.

On the other side, APR was flying, taking advantage of Patriot’s rotations. They scored 21 points while holding the Patriots to 9 points, allowing them to get back into the game.

In the last period, the Patriots didn’t handle their frustrations at all, as they were dissatisfied with the officials’ decisions. They committed a slew of fouls, Gray and Ndizeye fouled out, and Kenneth and Junior were also in foul trouble, making it impossible for them to return into the game. As a result, they lost the second game of the BetPawa Playoffs semifinal series in a row.

Demarcus Holland led APR with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Ntore Habimana nearly had a double-double as well, finishing with 13 points, and 9 rebounds While William Robeyns contributed 16 points off the bench in the triumph.

The Patriots’ star player, Steven Hagumintwari, had a remarkable effort, leading the team with 20 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

The best-of-five BetPawa semi-final series currently stands at 2-0 in favour of APR, one more win will qualify them for this year’s BetPawa Playoffs and break REG-Patriots’ supremacy in the city.

The stakes are high for APR to face REG in the finals since REG seized a 2-0 lead over Espoir BBC.

Game 3 of the BetPawa series is set for Sunday in BK Arena.

APR Basketball Club took a 1-0 lead against the Patriots with a 69-59 win in the first round of playoffs (semi-finals).

KIGALI, August 23, Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza dropped 20 points, Ntore Habimana posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the APR Lions seal their first victory in 2023 Rwanda Basketball League Postseason rebranded as BetPawa Playoffs.

Prior to the game, APR head coach Maz Trakh had to make an essential call in selecting two foreigners that would appear on the game roster. He chose De Marcus Holland and Bush Wamukota over Congolese international Rolly Fula.

On the Patriots’ side, as predicted, Michael Andre Dixon was sidelined due to injury, and Roebuck Jr G Vashon took over in his place, however Mike’s absence was felt.

Heny Mwinuka’s Patriots lacked a leader who could distribute the ball, link the other players, and engage the entire team in the offensive. Thus, they lost the game 69-59 (22-19, 7-19, 14-18, and 16-13)

As a team, the Patriots shot 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the three-point line. Roebuck Jr scored a team-high 13 points while Kenneth Gasana and Ater Majok contributed 12 points apiece.

The two teams meet again at BK Arena for Game 2 on Friday.

REG BBC beat Espoir BBC 85-79 in 1st game of series

In the second semifinal, the reigning champions got off to a brilliant start, taking a 1-0 lead against the Nyamirambo-based team.

Adonis Filer led the electricians with 31 points while Pascal Niyonkuru scored 24 points. For the losing side, Olivier Turatsinze scored 27 points, Heritier Irumva had 16 points.

As the BetPawa Playoffs heat up, all eyes are on the Patriots BC and APR BBC, preparing to tip off the best-of-five series of the Rwanda Basketball League semifinals on Wednesday, August 23, at BK Arena.

KIGALI, August 23, Basketball fans will be treated to yet another spectacular round of basketball action to kick off the postseason series that will determine the 2023 Rwanda Basketball League champion.

This series appears to be carrying on the vibes of the most thrilling regular season we’ve seen, as the battle had to go down to the wire. REG’s Adonis Filer hit a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Patriots in the last regular-season game, determining the seeding for the playoffs.

From that shot that defined the postseason matchups, The long-awaited clash between the former Champions Patriots and APR sprang in what is deemed final before final.

Patriots vs. APR seems to be too close to call, with each side rightly confident in its potential to win. The No. 2-seeded Patriots are spearheaded once again by their big men, Ater Majok and Kendall Gray, as well as forwards Jean-Victor Mukama and Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba.

While the Army squad will counter with its best guards, Robeyns William, Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Ntore Habimana, and Demarcus Holland.

With Patriots’ Michael Andre Dixon uncertain, Roebuck Junior is poised to take over. Mike sustained an injury at the tail end of the regular season against APR.

However, APR’s choice of foreigners will be crucial. One of Rolly Fula, De Marcus Holland, or Bush Wamukota has to be dropped since only two foreigners are permitted to play in a league game.

Against the Patriots in the regular season, APR head coach Maz Trakh chose to sideline Bush Wamukota, and the Patriots out-rebounded his team while scoring the most second-chance points in the game. Prince Ibeh was employed alone against Majok and Gray, which forced him into a foul trouble. As a result, they lost the game.

Even though the rosters haven’t altered much, there are substantial alterations from the previous season. The Patriots are presently coached by Henry Mwinuka, who won the previous two league titles with REG BBC and is possibly the most successful coach in the Rwanda Basketball League of this era, having won three titles with Patriots before joining REG and claiming two more. When it comes to the series, his expertise is unparalleled.

The Tanzania-born tactician Mwinuka will face an illustrious opponent in Maz Trakh, who has extensive NBA experience as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons. In APR, he is assisted by Cliff Owuor and Aimée Karim Nkusi.

You can confidently state that the Patriots-APR series will be the most exquisite not just in the 2023 season but also the greatest the league has ever had based on their coaching profiles and the investment the teams have made thus far.

The Patriots’ roster will include American Michael Andre Dixon, the 2022 BAL MVP and Georgia International. He is paired up with Ater James Majok, a former colleague from US Monastir.

Majok, the BAL defensive player of the year in 2022, was drafted in 2011 by the Los Angeles Lakers. His tandem with Kendall Gray forms a strong wall, playing elite defence and, most importantly, grabbing rebounds like no one else, making it easy for their forwards Dieudonné Ndizeye and Jean-Victor Mukama (Canadian International) to hit threes whenever they want while being allowed to play an easy pick and roll game.

Patriots bank on their sixth man, Steven Hagumintwari, who can impact the game in all facets of basketball. Hagumintwari can defend, take long-range shoots, and drive into the paint, but his main strength is making crucial plays. Aristide Mugabe and Kenneth Gasana are also on the team.

Maz Trakh’s APR will be reliant on American guard Demarcus Holland, Congolese International Rolly Fula, a Rwandan-British big man Prince Ibeh, Rwandan-Belgian Robeyns William, Kenyan Bush Wamukota, Rwandan-Canadian Ntore Habimana, Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, and last season’s MVP, Axel Mpoyo

With these rosters and the fact that both teams finished the regular season on the same record (19-3), basketball fans are in for a treat. All five possible games will be played at BK Arena.

The second game will be held on Friday, August 25.

In another semifinal, the reigning champions REG BBC face Espoir BBC.