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
