RBL Round 8 (Regular Season): REG edges Patriots by two points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 8 in the RBL took place in Kigali. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of one of their biggest challengers Patriots (6-3) to second ranked REG (8-1) 79-77 in the game for the second place. Strangely Patriots outrebounded REG 55-41 including 16 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Senegalese point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) who scored 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. South African Pieter Prinsloo (208-1992, college: Marist) chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. Center Betoudji Kamndoh produced a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. REG maintains second position with 8-1 record having five points less than leader APR. Patriots at the other side keep the third place with three games lost.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Kigali: APR (#1) and Tigers (#6). APR (11-0) smashed visiting Tigers (3-5) by 19 points 95-76. Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. Ntore Habimana contributed with 18 points, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners. APR's coach James Maye allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. DR Congolese center Pitchou Kambuyi (208-1988) replied with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds for Tigers. Undefeated APR have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 11-0 record. Tigers at the other side dropped to the fifth place with five games lost. They share the position with Kepler. APR will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tigers' supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kigali to the arena Kepler.
Another interesting game was again a derby between two local teams from Kigali: Patriots (#3) and Orion (#6). Patriots (6-3) won against visiting Orion (3-6) 78-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Orion. Worth to mention a great performance of Elliott Cole who helped to win the game recording 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Patriots' coach Sunny Munyandamutsa used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Jeffery Stubbs responded with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Patriots maintains third position with 6-3 record having seven points less than leader APR. Loser Orion dropped to the seventh place with six games lost.

In the last two games of round 8 Kepler was defeated by Azomco in Kigali 89-87. Bottom-ranked Espoir lost to defending champion APR at home 64-91.



APR - Tigers 95-76

Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Kigali: APR (#1) and Tigers (#6). APR (11-0) smashed visiting Tigers (3-5) by 19 points 95-76. APR players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. The former international Ntore Habimana (196-1997, college: Laurier) contributed with 18 points, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Four APR players scored in double figures. APR's coach James Maye allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. DR Congolese center Pitchou Kambuyi (208-1988) replied with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds and American swingman David Nickelberry (201-1998, college: Buffalo) added 19 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Tigers. APR have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 11-0 record. Tigers at the other side dropped to the fifth place with five games lost. They share the position with Kepler. APR will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tigers' supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kigali to the arena Kepler.
Top scorers:
Tigers: P.Kambuyi 20+19reb, D.Nickelberry 19+5reb+3ast, S.Smith 13+5reb, B.Nkanira 7+3reb+2ast, F.Irutingabo 5+5ast, L.Ishimwe 4+6reb+1ast
APR: A.Diarra 20+8reb+2ast, N.Habimana 18+4reb+7ast, J.Uwitonze 15+2reb+1ast, J.Nshobozwa 10+4reb+2ast, O.Shema 8+3reb+1ast, W.Robeyns 7+3reb+3ast

Patriots - REG 77-79

The most exciting game of round 8 in the RBL took place in Kigali. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of one of their biggest challengers Patriots (6-3) to second ranked REG (8-1) 79-77 in the game for the second place. Strangely Patriots outrebounded REG 55-41 including 16 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Senegalese point guard Jean-Jacques Boissy (183-2000) who scored 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. South African Pieter Prinsloo (208-1992, college: Marist) chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. Center Betoudji Kamndoh produced a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and American point guard Elliott Cole (180-1994, college: Charleston) added 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the hosts. Four Patriots players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. REG maintains second position with 8-1 record having five points less than leader APR. Patriots at the other side keep the third place with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Patriots: E.Cole 21+5reb+6ast, B.Kamndoh 19+13reb+5ast, S.Hagumintwari 16+7reb+5ast, F.Cadeaux de Dieu 12+12reb+1ast, R.Nato 6+7reb+2ast, B.Nyamwasa 3+4reb+1ast
REG: J.Boissy 32+7reb+6ast, P.Prinsloo 11+6reb+1ast, O.Shyaka 11+3reb+2ast, C.Thomas 9+3reb+4ast, E.Kazeneza 6+8reb+1ast, J.Umuhoza 4+3reb

Azomco - Kepler 89-87

There was an upset in Kigali where higher ranked Kepler (3-5) was edged by ninth ranked Azomco (1-7) 89-87 on Sunday. Azomco forced 20 Kepler turnovers. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Azomco made 11 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Damaria Franklin (190-1999, college: Memphis) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 30 points and 17 rebounds and Richard Bizimungu who added 11 points and 18 rebounds during the contest. The former international power forward Elie Kaje (198-1995) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Cyiza Twizeyimana scored 18 points and 9 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Five Azomco and four Kepler players scored in double figures. Kepler's coach Juruni Lutwama tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Azomco left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Kepler's third loss in a row. They keep the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Tigers. Azomco's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Kigali UGB.
Top scorers:
Kepler: C.Twizeyimana 18+9reb+3ast, H.Irakoze 15+5reb, E.Kaje 15+15reb+4ast, O.Turatsinze 13+3reb+4ast, J.Ndoli 8+6reb, A.Mugabe 8+5reb+5ast
Azomco: D.Franklin 30+17reb+3ast, B.Kalisa 16+2reb, M.Prentise 16+6reb+7ast, B.Mugisha 13+3reb+2ast, R.Bizimungu 11+18reb+3ast, B.McBright 3+3reb+1ast

Patriots - Orion 78-72

Another interesting game was again a derby between two local teams from Kigali: Patriots (#3) and Orion (#6). Patriots (6-3) won against visiting Orion (3-6) 78-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Orion. They outrebounded Orion 58-41 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Patriots looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Elliott Cole (180-1994, college: Charleston) who helped to win the game recording 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Chadian forward Ronald Nato (199-1992) who added 14 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. Patriots' coach Sunny Munyandamutsa used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American point guard Jeffery Stubbs (189-1991, college: Jackson St.) responded with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists and Kennedy Garba produced a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. Patriots maintains third position with 6-3 record having seven points less than leader APR. Loser Orion dropped to the seventh place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Orion: J.Stubbs 30+7reb+9ast, K.Garba 14+10reb+2ast, E.Beleck 10+7reb+3ast, H.Shyengo Elite 6+5reb, J.Irakoze 4+6reb, P.Rurangirwa 4+1reb
Patriots: E.Cole 28+6reb+5ast, R.Nato 14+11reb+2ast, F.Cadeaux de Dieu 11+12reb+2ast, B.Kamndoh 7+7reb+3ast, O.Kamilindi 5+7reb, S.Hagumintwari 5+6reb+7ast

Espoir - APR 64-91

No shocking result in a game in Kigali where top-ranked APR (11-0) smashed bottom-ranked Espoir (1-9) 91-64 on Sunday. APR looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Mali forward Aliou Diarra (200-2001) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds (on 11-of-12 shooting from the field) and Congolese-French forward Nobel Boungou-Colo (202-1988) who added 11 points and 13 rebounds during the contest. Four APR players scored in double figures. DR Congolese Franck Nyembo (-2006) responded with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and center Fortunate Mwanawabene (-1998) scored 16 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. APR have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 11-0 record. Espoir lost sixth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Espoir: F.Nyembo 19+10reb+2ast, F.Mwanawabene 16+7reb+1ast, T.Powell 11+2reb+1ast, F.Muhoza 6+7reb, D.Shema 4+5reb+2ast, E.Muhayumukiza 4+6reb+2ast
APR: A.Diarra 24+13reb+1ast, J.Uwitonze 13+5reb+1ast, A.Filer Jovon 12+3reb+4ast, N.Boungou-Colo 11+13reb+3ast, S.Habineza 10+4reb+1ast, N.Habimana 7+2reb+7ast