Branch Stephaun delivered a game-high 16 points, despite facing strong defense from APR.
Branch Stephaun’s 16-point performance propels the Patriots to a series-tying 61-49 victory over APR BBC on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs Finals
The Patriots entered the game on Wednesday, September 18, determined to halt APR’s momentum and push the Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs Finals to Game 6.
Though the Patriots got just 8 points from the bench—all from Furaha—they dominated the boards with a 57-41 advantage and shot 8-27 from behind the arc, better than APR’s 5-30.
Steven Hagumintwari’s defense held Jaleel Miller to 10 points on 4-14 shooting, while Branch Stephaun led the team with a game-high double-double of 16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Captain Gaston chipped in 14 points.
APR’s Aliou Diarra posted another double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. the 3rd double-double of this finals series in 4 games
This postseason series has been thrilling, more so than last year, with the best-of-seven contest looking likely to go the distance. Game 5 is set for Friday, September 20, with Game 6 scheduled two days later, both at BK Arena.
Isaiah Jaleel Miller scores a game-high 32 points to help APR Basketball Club beat Patriots 67-53 in Game 3 of the Rwanda Basketball League Playoff finals. APR takes a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 on Wednesday.
The race for the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League title is escalating. Over the weekend, APR, the defending champions, bounced back from a one-game deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Patriots.
Isaiah Jaleel Miller, the American guard and clearly the most potent offensive player of this campaign, posed another significant threat to the Patriots. He made 12-27 shots in the game and recorded a game-high 5 assists in 32 minutes spent on the floor. Additionally, he stole 4 balls, the most in the game.
APR’s victory in Game 3 wasn’t solely due to Isaiah Jaleel Miller; the team’s depth also played a very important role. James Edwards’ bench added 19 points, whereas the Patriots’ bench managed only 4 points.
Prince Ibeh’s attempt to block Isaiah Jaleel Miller. Despite Prince Ibeh’s double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and led the team with 3 blocks, his poor shooting performance was a major factor in the Patriots’ loss. Ibeh went 0-10 from the free-throw line during the game.
APR’s Aliou Fadiala Diarra had another strong performance on both ends of the floor. He scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds (including 6 offensive rebounds), and recorded a game-high 4 blocks.
The Patriots’ weak bench has begun to wear out their key starters. With Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday, the Patriots need to regroup and halt APR’s momentum, or the army team will gain a dominant position and leave the Patriots with a nearly impossible task in the remaining games.
BK Arena will host Game 4 on Wednesday, September 18.
Aliou Diarra Fadiala dropped a monster double-double performance of 20 points, 18 rebounds, and a game-high 4 blocks to help APR BBC beat the top-seeded Patriots 101-93 on Friday night to tie the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League Playoff finals series at one game apiece.
Two days after a 12-point loss in Game 1, with Aliou Diarra dominating the team’s scoring and board charts but getting a little help, the Malian Center come out aggressive in Game 2, delivering both a strong defensive effort and an impressive offensive display.
Aliou Diarra’s APR started game 2 with an explosive 8-0 run in just 1 minute and 20 seconds, building on that momentum to close the first period ahead with 30-18.
Eager to finish the game early, much like their opponents did in Game 1, the defending champions kept up the intensity in the second quarter, scoring 27 points while holding the Patriots to just 17.
By halftime, APR extended their lead to 57-35; however, the Patriots launched a fierce comeback, starting with a 17-4 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
During this quarter, Aliou Diarra, the BAL 2023 defensive player of the year, was visibly frustrated after being subbed out by coach Maye. The standout defender wanted to stay on the floor as much as possible.
After playing 25 minutes in Game 1, Diarra wanted to stay on the floor as much as possible.
Despite the Patriots’ duo of Steven Hagumintwari and Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba heating up from three-point range, the army team slowed them down, and the third quarter ended with the Patriots cutting the deficit to 12, trailing 74-62.
Determined to mount one of the greatest comebacks in Rwanda Basketball League history, the Patriots entered the final quarter with renewed energy. Kamndoh Frank, who had been rested for the first two quarters, stepped up to take over from Ibeh, who was in foul trouble, and helped the patriots achieve what had seemed impossible.
Aliou Diarra’s APR held on to their lead until 2:54 left in the game, still ahead by 11 points. But William Perry hit two consecutive three-pointers, following Ibeh’s layup, cutting the lead to just three points with a minute remaining.
The reigning champions missed crucial free throws in the final minute, giving the Patriots a chance to claw their way back. A three-pointer from Hagumintwari and a layup by Kamndoh tied the game at 86 and forced overtime.
Despite never leading during regular time, the 2020 Rwanda Basketball League champions expended so much energy in their comeback that they struggled in overtime, especially after Ibeh and Kamndoh both fouled out. This allowed Aliou Diarra to dominate the boards, grabbing alomost all rebounds.
Axel Mpoyo’s back-to-back threes in overtime lifted APR to a much-needed victory to tie the series at 1-1.
Behind Aliou Diarra’s stellar performance on both ends of the floor, Mpoyo finished with a team-high 27 points, including 7 threes from 13 attempts.
Even with the loss, the Patriots were highly efficient from behind the arc, shooting 15-31 overall. Perry went 3-9, Stephaun 3-8, Hagumintwari 3-4, and captain Gaston hit 5-9.
Patriots’ Branch Stephaun
Branch Stephaun led all scorers with 29 points, and the series resumes with Game 3 on Sunday.
Branch Stephaun excels on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor Wednesday night as the Patriots beat APR BBC 83-71 in Game 1 of the Rwanda Basketball League Playoff Finals.
On September 11 at BK Arena, American guard Branch Stephaun scored 26 points to lead the Patriots to a strong start in the finals’ series against the defending champions, APR.
The top-seeded Patriots, who lost only one game in the regular season, advanced to the finals after sweeping Kepler in the semifinals. They now face APR, the reigning champs, reigniting a rivalry that began last year.
APR made a coaching change prior to the playoffs, with James Edward Maye replacing Mazen Trakh, who had lost twice to the Patriots’ Henry Mwinuka during the regular season.
After eliminating the REG in the semifinals, APR knew that the finals would bring tougher challenges. In the first quarter, APR trailed the Patriots by six points, 21-15, before the Patriots turned up the heat, building a 24-point lead by halftime, 52-28.
With a 24-point lead at halftime, the Henry Mwinuka-coached side virtual shifted their focus to Game 2 on Friday, opting to slow down their offense and prioritize limiting APR’s scoring. Although APR won the third and fourth quarters 22-16, 21-15, respectively, the gap was too large for them to overcome.
Despite being the team’s leading scorer with 26 points, Branch Stephaun’s biggest plays come on the defensive end. He also recorded a team-high nine rebounds and three blocks in the game.
Patriots’ Branch Stephaun aggressively attack the rim.
Captain Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba, known as Gaston, contributed 20 points, including 4 three-pointers. The Rwandan forward made 6-15 field goals, including 4-9 from behind the arc, and was perfect from the foul line, going 4-4.
Gaston added 9 rebounds to his stellar offensive plays to lead by example.
Steven Hagumintwari excelled in perimeter defense and also chipped in 16 points. The Patriots’ standout defender was flawless in his shooting, as he shot 3-3 from behind the arc and 3-3 from the free-throw line.
Steven Hagumintwari’s relentless defense on Jaleel Miller was a decisive factor in the Patriots’ victory.
On the other side, APR’s Aliou Diarra and Isaiah Jaleel Miller scored 19 points apiece.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, September 13, at 7 p.m. local time at BK Arena.
The best-of-seven series will determine the 2024 league champions.
Rwanda and Nigeria both walk away with a point following a tough 0-0 draw in their AFCON 2025 Qualifiers Group D match held at Amahoro Stadium.
In the presence of president Paul Kagame, Rwanda and Nigeria battled to a 0-0 stalemate on Tuesday, September 10, in the first international match at Amahoro Stadium since January 2022.
After a 1-1 draw away in Libya, Torsten Spittler’s team hosted their first match of the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers Group D, which also ended in a draw.
Rwanda was fortunate not to lose, thanks to goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwali, who made several crucial saves to keep the Amavubi in the game.
Although the Super Eagles were the superior side, Rwanda’s strong defensive organization earned them a fair result.
Following the draw, Nigeria remains at the top of the group with four points, ahead of the Benin vs. Libya match, while Rwanda holds second place with two points.
Rwanda’s next fixtures in the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers will be a double-header against Benin in October.
President Kagame made a long-awaited return to the stadium to watch a football match.
The mayor of Rubavu district, Mr. Prosper Mulindwa cut the ribbon to officially launch the new Rubavu basketball court.
Under the ‘Built Within’ initiative, the Giants of Africa pledged to construct 100 basketball courts across Africa. The most recent, and 31st, was unveiled in Rubavu District, Rwanda, making it the 7th in theland of a thousand hills.
Giants of Africa (GOA), in collaboration with the District of Rubavu and the Rwanda Basketball Federation, celebrated the launch of a newly renovated basketball court at Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle on September 9.
Rubavu, a district known for its abundant talent in various sports but currently without a basketball team in any league, was in line to receive a modern court so that its talents can be nurtured.
In their customary court unveiling ceremony, the Giants of Africa hosted a youth basketball clinic beforehand. The clinic was led by a team of coaches from Canada headed by Sarah Chan, alongside local coaches under the direction of Moise Mutokambali, the National Technical Director.
In his welcome speech, the mayor of Rubavu expressed heartfelt thanks to the Giants of Africa for their substantial support in making this project possible.
“I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Giants of Africa for their general support in making this project a reality. Your dedication to using sports as a tool for positive change is truly inspiring, and we are honored to be part of this impactful journey.” Said Mayor Prosper Mulindwa
On behalf of the Rwanda Basketball Federation, Mr. Désiré Mugwiza extended thanks to Masai Ujiri for continuously inspiring African youth to dream big and strive to become giants.
“We are deeply grateful for Masai’s Giants of Africa initiative and its vision and dedication to uplifting the communities in our country and across the African continent, providing young athletes with the opportunity to dream big and become giants.” FERWABA President noted.
Mr. Désiré Mugwiza, FERWABA President
Speaking to the kids after the clinic, Mr. Mugwiza emphasized the values of sports and reminded them that the new facility can help them embody these values.
“Let this court be a place where you build the friendships, discover your true potential, and pursue your dreams with passion.”
Sarah Chan, the Toronto Raptors’ manager for Africa scouting, spoke on behalf of the Giants of Africa at the ceremony; she highlighted the impact of the new facility on the Rubavu community.
Sarah Chan, Manager for Africa Scouting for Toronto Raptors
“We want to provide quality infrastructure that will benefit everyone in the community, particularly the youth who are so passionate about basketball, as we truly believe in the power of basketball’s ability to empower you both on and off the court.” Said former KPA center and now coach at GOA
Since its inception in 2003, Giants of Africa conduct basketball camps for boys and girls, build courts, and fund youth outreach activities on this continent.
The Ministry of Sports sees this initiative as strongly aligned with Rwanda’s value of dignity. Rwego Ngarambe, the director of sports at the ministry, praised Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa for this remarkable effort, which reflects Rwanda’s principles of dignity.
Rwego Ngarambe, The director os Sports at MINISPORTS
“We want to thank Masai Ujiri and the team for the vision you shared with us. We are here raising giants. Built within resonates with something that Rwandans know very much, Dignity “Agaciro.” Homegrown solutions. Our visions are aligned.”
Rubavu has long been a hub of talent.GOA is committed to its purpose of using basketball to educate and enhance the lives of African youngstersDuring the clinic, the kids received high-quality kits, two pairs of shoes each, and a basketball to take home.
Rwanda defeated Morocco in the U18 AfroBasket 2024 held in Pretoria, South Africa.
Rwanda leads Group C of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket after a hard-fought 56-51 victory over Morocco at the University of Pretoria Arena.
Following a strong opening game against the hosts on Tuesday, Rwanda claimed another victory at FIBA U18 AfroBasket today, September 6, over Morocco, not only to move to the top of the group but also securing a spot in the quarterfinals.
Rwanda had a rough start, struggling with their shooting as they converted only one shot out of 18 attempts, including 0-7 on 2-point field goals. This resulted in an 8-13 deficit in the first quarter against a very dynamic team in paint, Morocco.
Led by Sean Williams Mwesigwa, Rwanda surged back in the second quarter, scoring 24 points while conceding 17 to take a two-point lead in the break.
Mwesigwa and his teammates continued their momentum after the halftime with an 8-1 run, pushing their lead to 40-32. Although Morocco turned the tide by narrowing the gap to one point, Plamedie Kayira hit a crucial three-pointer to restore a four-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Yves Murenzi coached team made effective use of their bench and played a solid defense to close out the game with 56-51, highlighted by an outstanding offensive performance from Dylan Lebson Kayijuka.
Rwandan point guard Dylan Lebson Kayijuka continues to shine at the U18 AfroBasket 2024.
Kayijuka, Rwanda’s leading scorer, posted a game high of 20 points from 7-20 field goals in 35 minutes spent on the floor. Sean Williams Mwesigwa added 16 points, while Jonas Singiza made significant contributions on defense with 6 rebounds and 5 steals.
This win puts Rwanda at the top of their group with a 2-0 record. With the tournament format advancing the top two teams from each group, along with the best third-place teams from three groups, Rwanda has secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
Rwanda’s U18 team
Rwanda will be back on the floor on Monday, September 9, against Zambia.
Prince Ibeh won the league title with APR last season, and this season he will be competing against them with the Patriots.
The Patriots have eliminated Kepler in a 3-0 clean sweep, advancing to the Rwanda Basketball League playoff finals to challenge the reigning champions, APR.
On September 4 at Petit Stade, the Patriots beat Kepler in the Rwanda Basketball League Playoff semifinals to complete a 3-0 series sweep and advance to their first finals in two years.
After a challenging Game 1, the Patriots dominated the following two games, defeating the Kinyinya-based club and ending their hopes of claiming the league title in their maiden season.
83-71, 107-68, and 89-66, Henry Mwinuka’s team secured a berth in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) playoff finals for the ninth time in their decade-long existence.
Meanwhile, Patriots’ Henry Mwinuka is poised to make his 8th final appearance and his 5th with Patriots. The Tanzanian coach has secured the RBL title five times, including three with the Patriots.
In the finals, the Henry Mwinuka team will compete with APR, the defending champions, in a best-of-seven series.
Patriots will be relying on William Perry and Branch Stephaun (8) in the finals
The Patriots and APR, the top two seeds from regular season, will rekindle a rivalry that began last season’s playoffs, when APR swept the Patriots to reach the finals.
The sweep, followed by a trade of Michael Andre Dixon from the Patriots to the APR, fueled significant speculation and intensified the rivalry.
The rivalry persisted this season as the Patriots defeated APR twice in their regular season matchups and secured the top spot.
APR will be chasing for a treble in the finals. This season, APR has already secured the GMT and the inaugural Rwanda Cup.
The best-of-seven series will determine the league champions and country’s flag bearers in the 2025 Basketball Africa League.
RBL competition has evolved considerably, marked by attracting professional players, upgrading venues, and employing cutting-edge technology to resolve replay issues and enhance officiating precision.
The finals series tipoff on September 11, with the venue still to be decided.
Innocent Nshuti helped Rwanda begin their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualification campaign by earning a point in an away match against Libya.
On Wednesday, September 4, the Rwandan national team, Amavubi, began their campaign for the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers with an away match against Libya, led by former Amavubi head coach Micho.
Amavubi fell behind in the 16th minute when Subhi Al Dhaw scored for Libya. However, they equalized early in the second half with a goal from Innocent Nshuti, who finished a cross from captain Djihadi Bizimana with his chest.
Innocent Nshuti celebrating a goal with Djihadi Bizimana
The 47th-minute goal gave Amavubi a boost, and they controlled possession for much of the game but were unable to score again.
Libya, under the guidance of Sredojevic Milutin, known as Micho, couldn’t make the most of their home advantage and will now seek their first three points in their upcoming match against Benin in Cotonou.
On the other hand, Rwanda will look to build on their away point as they prepare to face Nigeria on September 10 at the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium, which will host its first international match since 2022.
REG BBC look to pull off the impossible as APR stand on brink of making a back-to-back Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs finals.
After falling 2-0 to APR, the Rwanda Energy Group-owned team looks to bounce back against the defending champions as the series continues at Petit Stade.
The electricians lost Game 1 in heartbreaking fashion and fell short in the final moments of Game 2. They must respond in Game 3 to avoid a sweep by APR, echoing last season’s outcome.
REG’s Struggles against APR
REG and APR face off for the fifth time in the 2024 RBL season tonight, with APR having won all the previous encounters and poised to secure a spot in the playoff finals for a second consecutive time.
The army team has bested REG in 10 consecutive league matchups. REG’s last victory over APR was on September 2, 2022, during Game 3 of the playoff semifinals, where REG clinched a 71-66 win, advancing to the finals.
Since then, APR has consistently outperformed REG, starting with victory in both home and away games during the 2023 regular season, followed by a devasting 4-0 sweep in playoff finals. This season APR seized the dominance, completing a double over REG in home and away encounters, and they are now leading the series with 2-0, making it 10-0 in league games and 12-0 in all competitions, including victories in the 2024 Rwanda Cup and GMT.
REG’s Uphill Battle
REG faces a tough challenge to win this game and stay alive in the series. Coach Ogoh Odaudu’s team must address their final quarter struggles from the first 2 games.
To counter APR’s Aliou Diarra’s endurance in the final quarter, REG must rotate their big men more effectively and avoid foul trouble. Pitchou Manga has been hampered by fouls at critical moments, and REG needs Kendal Gray’s aggressive play to support him.
Key Matchups
While REG needs to strengthen their frontcourt in crucial moments, they hold an advantage in the backcourt, despite APR’s Jaleel Miller being a formidable opponent.
It’s unfair to assign only one player to Isaiah Jaleel Miller. It takes team effort to defend him.
APR’s Isaiah Jaleel Miller
Miller scored 43 points against this REG in the Rwanda Cup final, and his offense threat persisted as he put up again 32 points against REG last Friday in the playoff first game.
Even if he might not start this game, REG BBC’s veteran Herve Icyishatse, a terrific defender, is expected to guide Miller in this game.
Ntore Habimana vs. Antino Alvalezes Jackson: Habimana is one of the best offensive creators in the league, leading in assists during the regular season, while Antino is an athletic offensive player with long-range shooting ability. Defending Antino will be challenging, but Habimana has solid support for Nshobozwa, known for his man-to-man defense.
What REG BBC Needs to Do to Avoid a Sweep
REG needs a big game from Cleveland Thomas. The American shooting guard, who dropped 27 points in Game 1, was held to 8 points in Game 2, and consequently the team failed to perform offensively.
REG needs to build on their positives from Game 1 and move past their earlier mistakes. REG had 15 turnovers in 45 minutes of game 1 and forced APR into 25 turnovers but failed to capitalize on them.
Improving shooting efficiency is crucial for REG, as they shot 37.8% in Game 1 and just 30% in Game 2, along with poor free-throw percentages of 60% in Game 1 and 44.4% in Game 2. These areas need improvement if they hope to avoid being swept.
But first and foremost, they have to slow down Jaleel Miller
Tonight’s game, scheduled for 8 p.m. at Petit Stade, is a must-win for REG.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are expected to complete a 3-0 sweep over Kepler and advance to the finals. If both APR and the Patriots make it to the finals, it will be their first-ever playoff finals showdown.
Petit Stade will once again host these games, instead of BK Arena as previously mentioned
The best-of-seven finals will determine the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League Champions.
