Patriots Start High While APR’s Kamilindi is Out: The Defending Champions Started On A High Note While APR’s Kamilindi Is Out Of The Tournament Due To An Injury.
Rwanda’s giants, The Patriots, who won the Bank of Kigali Basketball National League last season got off to a good start with a victory over Espoir BBC in the final game of the day.
Patriots were match favourites owing to the fact that had they had a mix of big-name players both internationally and locally. Eight players playing for Rwanda National team plus Burundian international Guibert Nijimbere and Kenya Moran’s Wamukota Bush.
Patriots head coach Dean Murray used all 12 players. The player with the most time on the court had 20 minutes and 12 minutes for the players with the least time, with 32 points from the bench. It was an easy game for Patriots as they led the first three quarters rotating the entire squad. Opponents Espoir BBC scored only 10 points from the bench and all these points came from one player, Charles Kabayiza.
Last season’s MVP, Ndizeye Ndayisaba Dieudonne scored the highest points of the game with 17 points in 18 minutes played. Espoir’s captain Philippe Kubanatubane scored 13 points for his Nyamirambo based club.
After the game patriots coach Dean Murray said he was pleased with his team’s defence and added that he tried to use all the players. He also mentioned that his ambition is to defend the title by winning all the games with respect of every opponent.
Espoir was led by team manager, Daniel Kirenga in the absence of coach Janvier Kamanzi. He talked to Rwanda Broadcasting Agency RBA in a post-match interview saying that they struggled to face Patriots Centers because of their heights. and he added that they are going to prepare for the next games against RP-IPRC Huye and are ready to continue into the semi-finals.
In the other match, APR BBC beat RP-IPRC Huye 78-65, with Kamilindi Olivier suffering an injury that would prevent him from playing in the remaining matches.
Kamilindi Olivier played just 4 minutes and immediately had a problem with his calf. In a short interview with Ground Sports, he told us that the injury is not too serious.
He said, “The team doctors told me that I would spend 2 weeks off-court. On Tuesday I will go see a Doctor for a checkup.”
When asked if he left any gaps in the team, the small forward said, ” APR BBC have a good squad now with the addition of the likes of Isom Cedrick, Kevin Ndahiro, Kayonga Chester Gisa and Ntwali Marius… they can make it.”
Commenting on these new players, Kamilindi said “Cedrick has come in with his expertise and ability to organize. We had a problem with a small number of Point Guards, but Cedrick will help us and I trust him. Kevin and Marius are good players too and Chester every time he came in, he helped us. In brief, we have a good team and I feel we will fight and the title is possible for us.”
The second day’s matches continue today on October 19, with RP-IPRC Musanze playing against UGB, Espoir BBC playing against RP-IPRC Huye then in the last game of the day, REG BBC play against RP-IPRC Kigali. In women’s category, APR BBC will play against RP-IPRC Huye and The hoops battle with Ubumwe BBC.
