In addition to getting the championship he has craved, Nshobozwabyosenumukiza was named Betpawa Playoffs MVP after APR defeated the reigning champions REG BBC 80-68 in Game 4 at BK Arena, to claim the 14th record title.
APR Basketball Club achieved a 4-0 series sweep in the finals, following another sensational whitewash over the Patriots in the semifinals, and Nshobozwa has been averaging 13.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game during the playoffs.
In a 80-68 win in Game 4, Nshobozwa had 13 points (5/10 2PT and 1/2 3PT), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, 25, topped the league’s charts in steals, assists, and three-pointers made. He also finished the season as the third highest scorer.
Former Espoir and REG PG has won the Rwanda Basketball League for the third time in a row, winning back-to-back championships with REG BBC in 2021 and 2022 and now in 2023 with APR. He will take APR to the BAL next season, a league in which he has never missed a single edition.
And there is little doubt that these stats earned him the 2023 RBL MVP award.
Rwanda International point guard got Rwf 1000,000 as the MVP prize at the ceremonies, which also acknowledged APR’s Maz Trakh as the best coach of the year.
In the other individual awards, Espoir’s Olivier Turatsinze took home the regular season top scorer as well as most valuable player, while Orion’s Patrick Nshizirungu received the best three pointer award.
Turatsinze helped Espoir BBC to compete in the RBL Playoffs for the first time since the inauguration of Kigali’s BK Arena. The left-handed PG had a memorable season, finishing top scorer with 507 points, third in assists, second in steals, second in two-pointers made, and second in three-pointers made.
Brian Kalisa of RP-IPRC Huye came out as the most improved player of the year, and Frank Betoudji Kamndoh won the best defender the year for the second time.
APR, the 2023 Rwanda Basketball Champions, walked away with a sum of Rwf 18 million as the prize money
The focus has switched to the women’s category, where APR and REG are locked 1-1 in the best-of-seven series, with game 3 slated for tomorrow in BK Arena.
PHOTOS: Innocent SHEMA
