RBL Round 12 (Regular Season): REG beat UGB by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Eighth-ranked UGB (3-7) was very close to win a game against third ranked REG (8-3) in Kigali on Wednesday. REG managed to secure only one-point victory 87-86. However their fans expected much easier game. REG made 27-of-31 free shots (87.1 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 UGB turnovers. Strangely UGB outrebounded REG 49-30 including 20 on the offensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when REG made 7 blocks. 24 personal fouls committed by UGB helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for the former international Prince Muhizi (-1996) who saved his team from a defeat with 21 points and 5 rebounds. American point guard Antino Jackson (182-1996, college: N.Mexico) contributed with 17 points and 8 assists (went 12 for 12 at the free throw line !!!) for the winners. REG's coach Charles Mushumba used entire bench in such tough game. Montenegrin Nemanja Milosevic (204-1987, college: WKU) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 17 rebounds for UGB. REG maintains third position with 8-3 record behind leader Patriots. UGB lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with seven games lost.
Important game to mention about took place in Kigali. Fifth ranked Espoir (6-4) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging one of their biggest challengers Tigers (6-5) 88-87 in the game for the fourth place. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Tigers. Worth to mention a great performance of Chadian forward Ronald Nato (199-1992) who helped to win the game recording 33 points (!!!) and 4 blocks and Olivier Turatsinze who added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Morel Lunguewane with a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!) and 20 rebounds (on 15-of-17 shooting from the field). Tigers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Espoir have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Tigers at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost.
The game between 9th ranked K-Titans (1-8) and sixth ranked Kepler (5-5) in Kigali on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Kigali outscored K-Titans 106-80. The winners were led by Chad Bowie who scored that evening 35 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Coach Juruni Lutwama's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even a double-double of 36 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds by Kurt Hall did not help to save the game for K-Titans. Newly promoted Kepler maintains sixth position with 5-5 record. K-Titans lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with eight games lost.




REG - UGB 87-86

Eighth-ranked UGB (3-7) was very close to win a game against third ranked REG (8-3) in Kigali on Wednesday. REG managed to secure only one-point victory 87-86. However their fans expected much easier game. REG made 27-of-31 free shots (87.1 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 UGB turnovers. Strangely UGB outrebounded REG 49-30 including 20 on the offensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when REG made 7 blocks. 24 personal fouls committed by UGB helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for the former international Prince Muhizi (-1996) who saved his team from a defeat with 21 points and 5 rebounds. American point guard Antino Jackson (182-1996, college: N.Mexico) contributed with 17 points and 8 assists (went 12 for 12 at the free throw line !!!) for the winners. Four REG players scored in double figures. REG's coach Charles Mushumba used entire bench in such tough game. Montenegrin Nemanja Milosevic (204-1987, college: WKU) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 17 rebounds and center Shaffi Habineza (-1997) added 22 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for UGB. REG maintains third position with 8-3 record behind leader Patriots. UGB lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
UGB: H.Shaffi 22+8reb, N.Milosevic 16+17reb+2ast, A.Espoir 14+9reb+4ast, I.Emmanuel 9+4reb+2ast, K.Eric 7+3reb+1ast, P.Rembert 7+2reb+8ast
REG: M.Prince 21+5reb+3ast, H.Ikishatse 19+1reb+2ast, P.Kambuyi 18+8reb, A.Jackson 17+2reb+8ast, J.Mukama 6+8reb+3ast, J.Umuhoza 2+1ast

K-Titans - Kepler 80-106

The game between 9th ranked K-Titans (1-8) and sixth ranked Kepler (5-5) in Kigali on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Kigali outscored K-Titans 106-80. They outrebounded K-Titans 50-39 including 18 on the offensive glass. Kepler looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by K-Titans' players. The winners were led by Canadian guard Chad Bowie (188-1996, college: SHSU) who scored that evening 35 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Burundian point guard Guibert Nijimbere (186-1995) supported him with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Coach Juruni Lutwama's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even a double-double of 36 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds by American forward Kurt Hall (196, college: Ky Christian) did not help to save the game for K-Titans. Niyizibyose Janvier added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Newly promoted Kepler maintains sixth position with 5-5 record. K-Titans lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
K-Titans: K.Hall 36+13reb+3ast, M.Jerry 11+1reb+1ast, K.Philippe 11+2reb+2ast, J.Niyizibyose 10+11reb+2ast, T.Josue 6+8reb+2ast, M.Jordan 6+1reb+1ast
Kepler: C.Bowie 35+6reb+6ast, C.Done 14+5reb+5ast, G.Nijimbere 14+5reb+6ast, M.Jonathan 10+6reb+1ast, R.Imani 8+2reb+2ast, T.Cyiza 7+11reb+4ast

Espoir - Tigers 88-87

Important game to mention about took place in Kigali. Fifth ranked Espoir (6-4) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging one of their biggest challengers Tigers (6-5) 88-87 in the game for the fourth place. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Tigers. Espoir forced 26 Tigers turnovers. Strangely Tigers outrebounded Espoir 60-42 including a 43-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Espoir brought some defensive toughness making 9 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of Chadian forward Ronald Nato (199-1992) who helped to win the game recording 33 points (!!!) and 4 blocks and international point guard Olivier Turatsinze (185-2001) who added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Morel Lunguewane with a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!) and 20 rebounds (on 15-of-17 shooting from the field) and Nigerian power forward Francis Azolibe (206-1999) scored 7 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 blocks. Tigers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Espoir have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Tigers at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Tigers: L.Morel 38+20reb+1ast, I.Fiston 14+3reb+3ast, R.Cedric 9+3reb+1ast, M.Tresor 7+4reb, A.Francis 7+17reb+6ast, S.Uwimana 6+1reb
Espoir: R.Nato 33+4reb+1ast, T.Olivier 18+5reb+6ast, M.Fortunate 11+7reb+1ast, M.Fabrice 8+7reb+2ast, M.Eric 7+8reb, N.Jean de Dieu 4+6reb+7ast