RBL Round 9 (Regular Season): Patriots beat UGB by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Seventh-ranked UGB (3-5) used its home court advantage to challenge leader Patriots (9-0) on Wednesday. The visitors managed to secure only three-point victory 81-78. However their fans expected much easier game. Patriots made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. Patriots had a 34-22 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a good game for Betoudji Kamndoh who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds. International Steven Hagumintwari (198-1993) contributed with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Center Shaffi Habineza (-1997) answered with 19 points and 9 rebounds for UGB. Undefeated Patriots have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. UGB at the other side keeps the seventh position with five games lost.
Important game to mention about took place in . Eighth ranked Orion (2-5) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Kepler (4-5) 76-74 on Friday evening. American David Atkinson (203-1991, college: Salem) stepped up and scored 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Caleb Podo chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was Canadian guard Chad Bowie (188-1996, college: SHSU) with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Orion maintains eighth place with 2-5 record. Newly promoted Kepler dropped to the sixth position with five games lost.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Kigali: Espoir (#5) and REG (#3). REG was crushed at home by 17 points 71-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Olivier Turatsinze nailed 36 points (!!!) for the winning side. Pitchou Kambuyi came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds for REG in the defeat. REG's coach Charles Mushumba rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Espoir (5-4) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Tigers. Loser REG keeps the third position with three games lost.

In the last two games of round 9 Espoir smashed Inspired Gen. on the road 96-71. Tigers destroyed K-Titans on its own court 72-51.



Inspired Gen. - Espoir 71-96

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked Espoir (5-4) crushed on the road bottom-ranked Inspired Gen. (0-9) 96-71 on Wednesday. Espoir dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Inspired Gen.'s 46. Espoir forced 29 Inspired Gen. turnovers and outrebounded them 56-36 including a 23-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. Espoir looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Espoir made 7 blocks. Chadian forward Ronald Nato (199-1992) nailed a double-double by scoring 29 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and Fortunate Mwanawabene accounted for 18 points and 7 rebounds. Four Espoir players scored in double figures. Espoir's coach Janvier Kamanzi felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Freddy Kwizera (-1996) came up with 22 points and 9 rebounds and Cedrick Ndizihiwe added 15 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Inspired Gen. in the defeat. Espoir moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Tigers. Inspired Gen. lost their ninth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Inspired Gen.: K.Freddy 22+9reb+2ast, N.Cedrick 15+6reb+1ast, I.Kevin 14+5reb, M.Duke 8+4reb+3ast, L.Joseph 8+2reb+2ast, R.Patrick 4+6reb+2ast
Espoir: R.Nato 29+15reb+2ast, M.Fortunate 18+7reb+3ast, S.Didier 17+8reb+2ast, M.Eric 15+8reb+3ast, M.Fabrice 8+3reb, N.Gakuru 5+2reb+1ast

UGB - Patriots 78-81

Seventh-ranked UGB (3-5) used its home court advantage to challenge leader Patriots (9-0) on Wednesday. The visitors managed to secure only three-point victory 81-78. However their fans expected much easier game. Patriots made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. Patriots had a 34-22 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a good game for Betoudji Kamndoh who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds. International Steven Hagumintwari (198-1993) contributed with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Center Shaffi Habineza (-1997) answered with 19 points and 9 rebounds and Jean-Marie Rukerimbere (-1996) added 15 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for UGB. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Patriots have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. UGB at the other side keeps the seventh position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
UGB: H.Shaffi 19+9reb+1ast, R.Jean-Marie 15+8reb+2ast, A.Saidi 14+8reb+3ast, I.Emmanuel 14+1reb+7ast, S.Gasana 5+1ast, K.Eric 4+7reb+1ast
Patriots: W.Perry 20+3reb+4ast, S.Hagumintwari 18+7reb+4ast, K.Betoudji 15+14reb+2ast, K.Gasana 10+2reb+3ast, N.Dieudonne 6+11reb+5ast, S.Sagamba 6+6reb

Orion - Kepler 76-74

Important game to mention about took place in . Eighth ranked Orion (2-5) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Kepler (4-5) 76-74 on Friday evening. Orion forced 23 Kepler turnovers. American David Atkinson (203-1991, college: Salem) stepped up and scored 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Caleb Podo chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was Canadian guard Chad Bowie (188-1996, college: SHSU) with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals and center Yamin Niyubahwe produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Orion maintains eighth place with 2-5 record. Newly promoted Kepler dropped to the sixth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Kepler: C.Bowie 28+7reb+8ast, J.Ndoli 13+10reb, N.Yamin 12+11reb+2ast, A.Mugabe 10+2reb+5ast, C.Done 7+2reb+3ast, R.Imani 4
Orion: D.Atkinson 24+6reb, E.Ezenekwe 17+1reb+1ast, P.Caleb 13+6reb+6ast, H.Leonard 11+4reb+1ast, N.Bello 7+5reb+5ast, N.Charles 2+3reb+1ast

Tigers - K-Titans 72-51

Rather expected game when 9th ranked K-Titans (1-7) were smashed on the road by sixth ranked Tigers (5-4) 72-51 on Friday. Tigers outrebounded K-Titans 58-44 including 21 on the offensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Tigers made 7 blocks. Fiston Irutingabo (-1996) nailed 21 points and 5 assists for the winning side and center Tresor Muteba accounted for 7 points and 17 rebounds. Point guard Philippe Kubanatubane (-1993) came up with 13 points and 6 rebounds and Elvis Mpeti added 4 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively for K-Titans in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tigers moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Espoir. Loser K-Titans keep the ninth position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
K-Titans: K.Philippe 13+6reb+3ast, K.Hall 12+5reb+1ast, M.Jordan 11+2reb, M.Elvis 4+15reb+2ast, J.Niyizibyose 4+4reb, T.Josue 3+6reb+2ast
Tigers: I.Fiston 21+3reb+5ast, N.Patrick 11+10reb, P.Nshizirungu 9+6reb+1ast, G.Diue 8+4reb+3ast, A.Francis 7+11reb+2ast, M.Tresor 7+17reb

REG - Espoir 71-88

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Kigali: Espoir (#5) and REG (#3). REG was crushed at home by 17 points 71-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Espoir made 24-of-31 free shots (77.4 percent) during the game. They also forced 28 REG turnovers. International point guard Olivier Turatsinze (185-2001) nailed 36 points (!!!) for the winning side and Chadian forward Ronald Nato (199-1992) accounted for 23 points and 6 rebounds. DR Congolese center Pitchou Kambuyi (208-1988) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds and Benjamin Mukengerwa added 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals respectively for REG in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. REG's coach Charles Mushumba rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Espoir (5-4) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Tigers. Loser REG keeps the third position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
REG: P.Kambuyi 15+16reb+1ast, P.Niyonkuru 12+1reb+1ast, M.Benjamin 12+6reb+6ast, H.Ikishatse 10+4reb, M.Prince 6+5reb+3ast, A.Jackson 4+2reb+2ast
Espoir: T.Olivier 36+4reb+3ast, R.Nato 23+6reb, M.Eric 13+9reb+3ast, M.Fortunate 11+13reb+2ast, M.Fabrice 4+4reb, N.Jean de Dieu 1+6reb+4ast