Rwanda tastes first loss at AfroBasket U18 Qualifiers

Rwanda’s U-18 boys’ team lost their first game at the FIBA AfroBasket U18 Zone 5 qualifiers, falling short with a 49-78 defeat to hosts Uganda at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium on Monday, June 10. Rwanda were off to a winning start in the tournament when they comfortably beat Kenya 81-52 in the opening game on Sunday, but Monday's game wasn’t on their side as Uganda beat them to maintain their unbeaten run before their home supporters. Yves Murenzi’s boys won the first quarter 15-11 before Uganda bounced back to claim the second one 19-7 to go into half-time leading 30-22. When the teams returned for the second half, Uganda continued where they stopped, winning the third quarter 31-7 to extend their lead to 22 points. Rwanda could only manage to take the last quarter 20-17 but it was not enough to salvage victory. Point guard Dylan Lebson Kayijuka was Rwanda’s highest scorer with 15 points and 6 rebounds while Gabriel Ndoba Mwimba and Ricardo Gomez Senkomane added 11 and 7 points, respectively. Rwanda will be back to action on Tuesday, June 11, hoping to return to winning ways when they take on Tanzania. The FIBA AfroBasket U18 qualifiers attracted four countries in the Zone 5 including hosts Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania each fielding both girls’ and boys’ teams. The competition is being played in a round-robin format, and after. The top team will face the bottom side whilethe second and third teams will also face off to determine the finalists.
Courtesy of: newtimes.co.rw