REG look to bounce back to keep the series alive.

By

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September 4, 2024

REG needs a big game from Cleveland Thomas

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.

In Game 1, REG held a nine-point lead entering the final quarter, but APR cut the deficit and forced overtime. In Game 2, REG led for three quarters before APR surged in the final quarter to win the game.

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.

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.

REG — 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.

APR beat REG to take a 2-0 lead in the RBL playoff semifinals.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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September 1, 2024

APR Basketball Club pulled ahead in the last quarter and held on for a hard-earned 65-60 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) semifinals. Isaiah Miller was exceptional once again.

KIGALI- Following an APR BBC narrow victory over REG BBC last Friday, today, September 1st, at Petit Stade, the last season playoffs finalists resumed their rivalry, and APR triumphed once again and moved one win away from securing a spot in the finals.

Much like Friday’s nail-biting finish, today’s matchup was decided in the final quarter. Although the Rwanda Energy Group team led at the end of the third quarter, the defending champions APR managed to prevail by five points, raising doubts among REG fans about their team’s endurance after consecutive losses in the final quarter.

Odaudu Ogoh’s REG led the first three quarters (11-10, 20-17, and 14-15) and took a three-point advantage prior to the final quarter. But the army side turned the ride, overcoming the deficit and gaining a twelve-point lead.

REG, the back-to-back RBL champions of 2021 and 2022, tried to come back in the game, but their attempt fell short and allowed APR to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

The American guard Isaiah Jaleel Miller scored 19 points on 9-17 FGs in 32 minutes spent on court.

REG’s Antino Alvalezes Jackson led all scorers with 21 points, but his offensive performance was not enough as his partner Cleveland Thomas, who usually contributes a lot in REG’s offensive play, was limited to only 8 points.

This win stretches APR’s streak to ten consecutive wins over REG.

As the series shifts to BK Arena, APR looks to take a commanding 3-0 and complete a sweep to advance to the 2024 RBL Finals.

In the other semifinal matchup, the Patriots thrashed Kepler 107-68 to take a 2-0 lead as well.

All remaining RBL playoff games will take place at BK Arena.

APR edged a narrow victory over REG in Game 1 of the RBL Playoff semifinals.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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August 31, 2024

APR's Miller tries to dribble past Antino Alvalezes. Photo: Innocent SHEMA

APR Basketball Club survived a big scare in Game 1 of their Rwanda Basketball League playoffs semifinal series, winning 92-91 in a narrow overtime thriller against the Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club.

In Friday night basketball game at Petit Stade, under the betPawa playoffs, as the league’s naming rights holder, the last season’s finalists faced off in a closely contested game, with the defending champions APR securing a dramatic victory to take the opening win in the best-of-five series.

A dramatic finish, the Army team narrowly edged out the electricians 92-91, with Isaiah Jaleel Miller delivering an outstanding performance in his postseason debut in Rwanda.

Both APR and REG entered the playoffs with new head coaches. APR had earlier announced the addition of James Jr. Maye as an assistant to head coach Mazen Trakh, though coach Maz was notably not seen from the sidelines in game 1 against REG BBC.

On the other hand, REG added Ogoh Odaudu to their coaching staff. Odaudu, a Nigerian who was named the 2024 BAL coach of the year, was on duty for the first game, while Charles Mushumba was not seen in the assistant coaches.

On the court, Odaudu’s team started the game with great intensity, moving the ball effectively and making key shots, largely thanks to their dynamic backcourt duo, Antino Alvalezes and Cleveland Thomas. They took a 24-20 lead in the first quarter, but APR managed to slow them down in the second quarter, heading to the break with REG leading by two points. 42-40

The electricians come back in the third quarter determined, and the same duo that had been effective throughout continued to hurt APR, taking a seven-point lead in the third quarter, 25-18, with a nine-point lead prior to the last period.

APR surged a comeback in last quarter and gained a 7-point lead with less than a minute remaining. Prince Muhizi drove aggressively into the paint and dropped a powerful dunk over Diarra. Shortly after, Antino Alvalezes set up Justin Uwitonze for a crucial three-pointer, leaving REG BBC trailing by just two points.

With just 9 seconds left on the clock, Mukama fouled Miller, the standout offensive player of the day, a former jazz guard, missed one of the free throws, giving REG a chance to hit a three-pointer and force overtime.

Antino Alvalezes Jackson, who had 6-14 from three-point range, stepped up and made a three-pointer to tie the game to 83, improving his three-point shooting to 7-for-15, the best in the game.

APR capitalized on the heights and dynamicity of Diarra in the paint to dominate Pitchou Manga, who was in foul trouble, and clinch a narrow victory in the first overtime. APR secured a narrow 92-91 victory and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Isaiah Jaleel Miller scored 32 points game-high, and Aliou Diarra contributed 22 points in the win. Diarra was good both offensively and defensively, as he also grabbed 12 rebounds, including 5 offensive rebounds.

Ntore Habimana and Captain William Robeyns chipped in 10 points apiece.

On the other side of the floor, REG star duo Antino Alvalezes (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Cleveland Thomas (27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) combined 54 points, while Kambuyi Manga Pitchou recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Rwanda Energy Group team will need to put Friday night’s result behind and regroup ahead of Game 2 on Friday.

In the early game, the league-top-seed Patriots secured a first win over Kepler with an 83-71 game. The Keplerians dominated the first three quarters, but the Henry Mwinuka team showed maturity in the last quarter and secured a 1-0 lead series.

Sunday, September 1^st, Petit Stade will once again welcome these city powerhouses for the betPawa playoffs game 2. The Instant Replay System will be in use to resolve any replay issues and enhance the accuracy of officiating.

2024 Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs tip off this Friday

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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August 29, 2024

The 2024 Men’s Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs tip off this Friday, August 30, with the league title sponsor betPawa boosting the incentives.

At the Radisson Blu Hotel on Wednesday, August 28, betPawa, a gambling firm with the naming rights for Rwanda Basketball League playoffs, announced that they have boosted the locker room bonuses and MVP prize money.

In the second year of their partnership, FERWABA and betPawa have strengthened their alliance, resulting in greater player engagement. The initial sum of RWF 405.5 million has increased due to raised locker room bonuses.

These bonuses have been increased from RWF 50,000 to RWF 65,000 for the second season of the betPawa playoffs. They will be given only to the winning team and will be shared among 12 players and 3 coaching staff this season.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Ntoudi Mouyelo, betPawa’s Chief Commercial Officer, revealed that the decision to raise the bonuses was intended to foster greater competition in the games.

He said, “We aim to give players more because we want to increase the competition among them.”

He continued, “This is to appreciate the partnership with FERWABA, which allows this sponsorship that benefits players directly through locker room bonuses.”

In addition to the locker room bonuses, betPawa announced that the Rwanda Basketball League Most Valuable Player will now receive USD 2,000, up from USD 1,500 last season.

Mr. Aimée Munana, FERWABA’s legal advisor, praised the partnership and emphasized that it adds significant value to players.

“Raising bonuses is a way to further recognize the players who are central to the game. While we’ve had sponsors support the federation before, this is the first time where a sponsor directs funds specifically to players. This move is excellent and will enhance competition within our league.” Said Munana

The Rwanda Basketball League playoffs will tip off this Friday at Petit Stade, featuring only the men’s teams since the women’s regular season is still ongoing due to the national team engagements.

The top-seeded Patriots will face Kepler, fourth in their inaugural top-tier season, in a best-of-five series starting at 6 p.m. This game will be followed by the matchup between REG BBC and APR BBC, last season’s finalists, at 8 p.m.

The winners will advance to the finals, where a best-of-seven series will determine the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League champions.

The Europeans secured two slots in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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August 27, 2024

Hungary and Czechia won the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments held in Rwanda and Mexico and booked two tickets in the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.

On August 25, in Kigali and Mexico City, the first-ever FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments came to a close. The Europeans emerged victorious, securing two spots that FIBA allocated to the 16 teams that did not qualify for the Olympics.

Hungary and Czechia defeated Senegal and Korea in the finals, respectively, earning two early slots in the 24-team pool for the next rounds of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

In a tournament held in Kigali, Senegal, undefeated until the final, lost the championship game 47-63 to Hungary. The West Africans were totally dominated by the Europeans, with Virag Kiss scoring 17 points, which earned her a place in the tournament’s first team.

Virag Kiss, alongside her teammate Reka Lelik, the MVP of the tournament, Senegalese Kane Ndioma, Great Britain’s Holly Winterburn, and Rwanda’s Bella Murekatete, complete the All-Star 5.

Bella Murekatete finished the tournament as the most efficient player, having topped the rebounding chart and coming in second in points per game. The Rwandan center averages 17.5 PPG and 11.0 RPG and led Rwanda to a fourth-place finish behind Hungary, Senegal, and Great Britain.

Similarly to Rwanda, Mexico, which hosted Groups A and B, finished fourth. Czechia, Korea, and Montenegro ranked first through third, respectively.

Czechia, The Winner of FIBA Women’s Basketball 2026 World Cup Pre Qualifying Tournaments Mexico

Hungary and Czechia will have to wait until next year’s continental cups to find out which of the other 22 teams will join them in March 2026 to vie for the final 16 teams that will compete for the World Cup in Germany.

Basketball: Rwanda Falls to Great Britain; Dr. Sarr Admits Responsibility Lapse.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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August 23, 2024

Rwanda had a challenging end to their FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament Group D journey. Despite the loss to Great Britain, Coach Dr. Cheikh Sarr’s comments suggest that the tactical approach was due to the strain of multiple games. Additionally, their sense of security from thinking they had already secured a semifinal spot may have influenced their approach to the game.

Following back-to-back wins against Lebanon and Argentina, the Rwandan women’s basketball team lost 61-75 to Great Britain, finishing Group D in second place and setting up a semifinal matchup against another African team, Senegal.

In Rwanda’s first two games, Dr. Cheikh Sarr, the coach, consistently credited the success to his players and highlighted their extra efforts to represent Rwanda with pride.

In his final group match against yet another team from a different continent, Dr. Sarr experienced his first loss of the campaign to a highly energetic and skilled shooting squad, Great Britain, and put the blame on himself.

The Europeans controlled the flow of the game after Rwanda’s early 10-2 lead in the first quarter, moving the ball freely, shooting from various positions, and driving into the paint at will. Great Britain shot 42% overall, including 32% from the three-point line, while Sarr’s team struggled, shooting 32% overall and 17.9% from behind the arc.

In the post-game press conference, Dr. Cheikh Sarr admitted that he deviated from his usual tactical approach by starting with a zone defense rather than a full-court press. He explained that, since his team had already won the first two games and essentially secured a place in the semifinals, he decided to make this change.

He said, “When we started the game, we didn’t go full-court press like we used to. We were concerned about getting exhausted. We did it for two games, and we have a semifinal to prepare. That was my mindset, but we react when we are down 29; it was very scary, so we had to change our minds and play full-court press to stop them. Maybe that’s my fault because I know I can control the team. I can control Great Britain by doing zone and then coming back on man-to-man. But that was different.”

He added, “They (Great Britain) were making all their shots while our shots weren’t falling. We know we can make those shots when we are open; we proved that in the first five minutes, but then everything stopped. We took a lot of shots, but none of them went in. That’s what happened. We needed to react quickly and manage to cut the lead to 14 points by the end of the game.”

Rwanda will take the floor once again on Saturday, August 24, at Kigali’s BK Arena for a semifinal clash against Senegal, Dr. Sarr’s home country.

The Senegalese coach has expressed a preference for facing Senegal over Hungary, although he acknowledges that all the teams are strong.

On the other side, Hungary will face Great Britain in the first semifinal game. The winners of these semifinals will meet in the championship game on Sunday, competing for a spot in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.

Rwanda shocked Argentina and secured a semifinal berth.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

-

August 22, 2024

In the presence of President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the Rwandan women’s basketball team triumphed over Argentina and secured a spot in the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 pre-qualifying tournament.

Following a bittersweet victory against Lebanon on matchday 1, Rwanda shocked Argentina, the world’s 31st-ranked team, on Wednesday night by holding them to 38 points.

Bella Murekatete was once again an outstanding player, posting a monstrous double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds to help Dr. Sarr’s team defeat Argentina by 20 points (58-38).

This hard-fought win secures the home team’s place in the semifinals, making them second, following Senegal, which qualified with back-to-back victories against Hungary and Brazil.

Today, August 22, Murekatete and her teammates will play their final group stage game against Great Britain. If Rwanda wins, they will top Group D and avoid facing Senegal in the semis, the likely top seed from Group C.

The road to Germany is still long; however, Rwanda is making notable strides as they are facing non-African teams for the first time.

Murekatete calls out to the fans to keep up the support.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

-

August 21, 2024

Bella Murekatete, who played a key role in Rwanda’s first victory over Lebanon, credited both the coach’s smart game plan and the enthusiastic fans for their success.

Rwanda beat Lebanon 80-62 in the opening game of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 pre-qualifying tournament. Bella Murekatete led the way with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and an assist.

During the interviews, while coach Dr. Sarr discussed what makes Rwanda a tough opponent, Murekatete added that the intense atmosphere created by the fans makes it very challenging for visiting teams.

She said, “We played Mali for friendly games, and you can’t hear anything the coach says or communicate with our teammates. The fans really make a really tough place for anybody else to come to play in. “

“The hardcore fans sit right next to the opponent’s bench, and they don’t sit down unless it’s a timeout or something like a halftime. That’s a hard thing to do.”

She continued: “We really appreciate the fans and want them to fill the stadium for the next game on Wednesday, making it hard for Argentina to hear anything. This is our biggest advantage—we’re at home, we’re a good team, and we love our fans and want to excite them.”

“Come to the games and support us,” said Murekatete.

Murekatete, 24, is the first Rwandan-born player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history and currently plays for the Washington State Cougars. She previously had a short training deal with the Phoenix Mercury.

Despite being one of the team’s youngest members, she adds valuable expertise since she has joined them for their Road to Berlin campaign.

On Wednesday at 8 p.m., Rwanda will compete against Argentina in a key Group D matchup. The result will determine the group leader and boost the chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 PQT Rwanda.

Rwanda catches Lebanon off guard, tipping off the World Cup qualification journey with a victory

By

Evode Munyeshuri

-

August 20, 2024

Rwanda’s Women’s National Basketball Team stunned Lebanon with an 80-62 victory in their first game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pre-qualifying competition, boosting confidence for their upcoming match against Argentina on Wednesday.

In the presence of Rwanda’s new Sports Minister Richard Nyirishema, FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave, and the President of FIBA Foundation Hamane Niang, Rwanda did not disappoint over 5,000 spectators at BK Arena, who were cheering them on in their first-ever game against a non-African team.

Rwanda, led by Bella Murekatete—back with the team for the first time since 2021—took full advantage of Lebanon’s fouls, sinking 18 of 19 free throws in the first half and going into halftime with a 45-36 lead.

In the third quarter, the host team elected to emphasize driving to the basket and controlling the paint, with Murekatete and Hampton driving aggressively, taking full advantage of key Lebanese foul trouble, including captain Rebecca Akl. The quarter concluded 20–12 in favor of Rwanda.

The home team continued their dominance in the last quarter, winning all four quarters of the game and becoming the first team to register a big victory in Groups C and D, which are being hosted in Kigali.

Murekatete led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 7-of-9 field goals and 10-of-12 from the line in her first appearance since the 2021 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers. Keisha Hampton scored 21 points, including nine three-pointers, while Sifa Ineza added 16 points.

They not only won all of the quarters, but they also dominated Lebanon in practically every aspect of the game. Rwanda outrebounded Lebanon 41-31, gained more points off turnovers (20-15), and scored 13 points in the fast break compared to Lebanon’s 8.

Dr. Sarr’s team will be back on the floor on Wednesday, facing Argentina, who defeated Great Britain in their first encounter. The winner of this Wednesday matchup will lead Group D and enhance their chances of progressing to the semi-finals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup PQT Rwanda.

RBL : The Patriots beat APR and secured the No. 1 seed in the Playoffs.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

-

August 17, 2024

The Patriots defeated APR BBC 77-70 on Friday night, achieving a double over the defending champions, clinching the top seed in the playoffs, and stretching their winning streak to 16 games in the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).

As the final moments ticked away in their 77-70 victory over APR Basketball Club, jubilant Patriots Basketball Club fans celebrated a team that had transformed from finishing third last season to achieving the best record ever in the RBL.

In the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League, the Patriots went on a 16-game winning streak and secured the top spot in the regular season with two games still to play.

Among their 16 wins, the Henry Mwinuka-coached Patriots secured a double over the defending champions, APR. Last season, they had beaten APR twice during the regular season but were dramatically swept by them in the playoffs, finishing in third place.

Despite limited options on the bench, the Patriots, who last claimed the RBL title in 2020, worked hard to contain APR’s Isaiah Jaleel Miller in the paint. However, the American forward had an outstanding performance, scoring a game-high 25 points.

In a back-and-forth game that was decided in the final quarter, there was some controversy over Mazen Trackh’s decision to bench Aliou Diarra during the money time. It was during this crucial moment that the Patriots took the lead and secured the victory.

William Perry, who had been rested in a recent game against APR, led his team with 21 points, going 7-16 from the field and 4-11 from behind the arc. His performance helped the Patriots overcome a 7-point deficit and win by 7 points.

On his debut for the Patriots, Branch Stephaun contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists, with half of his points coming in the final quarter while he was in foul trouble.

With this win, the Patriots have now defeated APR in both regular-season encounters for two consecutive seasons. And with two games remaining, the playoff seeds for the RBL are set.

As the top seed, the Patriots will face the fourth-seeded Kepler in the playoffs. Kepler secured the last playoff spot on Friday after Espoir lost to REG BBC.

REG BBC will compete against APR in the second playoff matchup, a rematch of the 2023 finals.

The first round of the playoffs of the playoffs (semi-finals) will be a best-of-five series, with the winners advancing to the finals, where a best-of-seven series will determine the 2024 RBL champions.

Photo: Innocent SHEMA

REG look to bounce back to keep the series alive.

REG BBC look to pull off the impossible as APR stand on brink of making a back-to-back Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs finals.

APR beat REG to take a 2-0 lead in the RBL playoff semifinals.

APR Basketball Club pulled ahead in the last quarter and held on for a hard-earned 65-60 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) semifinals. Isaiah Miller was exceptional once again.

APR edged a narrow victory over REG in Game 1 of the RBL Playoff semifinals.

APR Basketball Club survived a big scare in Game 1 of their Rwanda Basketball League playoffs semifinal series, winning 92-91 in a narrow overtime thriller against the Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club.

2024 Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs tip off this Friday

The 2024 Men’s Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs tip off this Friday, August 30, with the league title sponsor betPawa boosting the incentives.

The Europeans secured two slots in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Hungary and Czechia won the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments held in Rwanda and Mexico and booked two tickets in the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.

Basketball: Rwanda Falls to Great Britain; Dr. Sarr Admits Responsibility Lapse.

Rwanda shocked Argentina and secured a semifinal berth.

In the presence of President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the Rwandan women’s basketball team triumphed over Argentina and secured a spot in the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 pre-qualifying tournament.

Following a bittersweet victory against Lebanon on matchday 1, Rwanda shocked Argentina, the world’s 31st-ranked team, on Wednesday night by holding them to 38 points.

This hard-fought win secures the home team’s place in the semifinals, making them second, following Senegal, which qualified with back-to-back victories against Hungary and Brazil.

Murekatete calls out to the fans to keep up the support.

Bella Murekatete, who played a key role in Rwanda’s first victory over Lebanon, credited both the coach’s smart game plan and the enthusiastic fans for their success.

Rwanda catches Lebanon off guard, tipping off the World Cup qualification journey with a victory

Rwanda’s Women’s National Basketball Team stunned Lebanon with an 80-62 victory in their first game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pre-qualifying competition, boosting confidence for their upcoming match against Argentina on Wednesday.

RBL : The Patriots beat APR and secured the No. 1 seed in the Playoffs.

The Patriots defeated APR BBC 77-70 on Friday night, achieving a double over the defending champions, clinching the top seed in the playoffs, and stretching their winning streak to 16 games in the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).

As the final moments ticked away in their 77-70 victory over APR Basketball Club, jubilant Patriots Basketball Club fans celebrated a team that had transformed from finishing third last season to achieving the best record ever in the RBL.

In the 2024 Rwanda Basketball League, the Patriots went on a 16-game winning streak and secured the top spot in the regular season with two games still to play.

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