The Patriots Basketball Club defeated Kepler 84-77 in an exciting match, securing their 12th consecutive victory and reclaiming the top spot in the Rwanda Basketball League.
On June 22nd, at the Lycée de Kigali gymnasium, the former Rwandan champions and current league leaders triumphed over newcomers Kepler to regain their position at the top.
Under the guidance of coach Heny Mwinuka and led by the experienced William Kiah Perry, the Patriots started strong, scoring 29 points while holding Kepler to 15 in the first quarter.
Mandy Juruni’s Kepler team shifted momentum in the second and third quarters (21-15 and 25-15 in the second and third quarters, respectively), taking a two-point lead going into the final quarter, hoping to end the Patriots’ winning streak.
However, the Patriots did not yield, mounting a comeback in the last 10 minutes. They not only secured the victory and completed a double against Kepler but also preserved their undefeated record.
The four-time league champions, Patriots exhibited unwavering determination, scoring 26 points in the final quarter while limiting Kepler to 15.
Kepler, in their debut season in the top flight of the Rwanda Basketball League, showed resilience throughout the game. However, facing the determined Patriots, led by experienced players such as Kenneth Gasana, Steven Hagumintwali, William Perry, and Captain Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba, proved challenging, especially against a team striving for their first league title in four years.
Patriots’ William Kiah Perry led all scorers with 20 points, along with 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals in 35 minutes of play.
Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba contributed 18 points, while Cadeau de Dieu Furaha came off the bench to add another 18 points in this crucial victory.
The two-time defensive player of the year, Frank Kamndoh Betoudji, a newcomer to the Patriots known for his defensive prowess, posted a double-double performance with 11 points, 11 rebounds (including 5 offensive rebounds, the most in the game), and 3 blocks.
Despite missing Chad Bowie Jordan, Kepler relied on Guibert Nijimbere (17 points), Emile Galois Kazeneza (19 points), Chandelier Cyiza (12 points), and Jean Paul Ndoli (10 points) to contribute in double digits.
With this significant win, the Patriots now lead the league with an impressive 12-0 record, followed closely by APR, the defending champions, at 11-1.
Kepler currently holds the fourth position with a record of 6-7, trailing REG BBC in third place at 10-3. However, the certainty of Kepler maintaining this fourth position hinges on the results of the Tigers and Espoir matches.
In the Rwanda Basketball League, finishing fourth guarantees a spot in the playoffs, typically dominated by APR, Patriots, and REG in the top three positions.
League action resumes on Wednesday, June 26th, with Espoir facing the Titans and APR taking on UGB, both games scheduled at the LDK gymnasium.
