Patriots and RSSB Tigers stored their Rwanda Basketball League title hopes alive after securing essential Sport 4 victories over Rwanda Power Group (REG) and APR respectively at Petit Stade on Wednesday evening.
A victory for both APR or REG would have secured a spot within the finals, however Patriots and Tigers responded with vital wins to stage their best-of-five semi-final collection at 2-2.
Patriots bounce again
Patriots levelled their semi-final collection towards REG at 2-2 after defeating the defending champions 72-61 in Sport 4.
REG made the stronger begin, profitable the opening quarter 24-20, however Patriots responded within the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 12-9 to chop the deficit to 1 level. REG went into half-time main 33-32.
The third quarter remained intently contested, with REG edging it 17-16 to take a two-point benefit into the ultimate interval.
Patriots, nevertheless, produced a robust end, dominating the fourth quarter 24-11 to finish the comeback and drive a decisive Sport 5.
Patriots guard Jeffrey Tyrone Stubbs led all scorers with 21 factors, whereas Hervé Irakoze and centre Garba Chingka Kennedy added 12 and 11 factors respectively.
Tigers edge APR in thriller
Earlier within the night, RSSB Tigers additionally compelled their semi-final collection towards APR right into a winner-takes-all Sport 5 after edging the military facet 96-94.
Tigers bounced again from a 96-85 defeat to APR in Sport 3 on Tuesday evening to stage the collection at 2-2.
Ivorian guard Nisre Zouzoua was instrumental within the victory, ending with a game-high 27 factors to maintain the RSSB-sponsored facet in competition for a spot within the finals.
Sport 5 of each semi-final collection will likely be performed at Petit Stade on Friday, August 14, with the winners securing their locations within the championship finals.
Girls’s playoffs
Within the ladies’s class, Kepler moved forward 2-1 of their semi-final collection after defeating The Hoops Rwanda 47-34 in Sport 3.
In the meantime, REG reclaimed the lead of their collection towards APR, profitable Sport 3 by an 84-73 margin to maneuver 2-1 forward.
