National Basketball League
Saturday
UGB 56- 73 CSK
Ferwaba 67- 65 UNR
KIE 65- 68 Rusizi
Espoir 55-75 APR
Sunday
UNR 80-77 Rusizi
CLIFF Owour believes there is no more rivalry between his APR lions and 2004 champions Espoir following Saturday’s 75-55 mauling at Amahoro’s indoor stadium.
The reigning champions, who endured a shaky start to the season after defeats against UGB and CSK, seem to be back in the groove after Espoir’s win which left them top of the national basketball league for the first time this season.
“Going by our recent meetings, it’s been a one sided contest. We (APR) have been by far the better side so I don’t think it’s fair to continue hyping our matches,” the Kenyan coach reasoned.
Aboubacar Barame, who is back at APR after a one-year stint at Marine, spearheaded the win with a game high 25 points.
Espoir coach Albert Tuyishime was however quick to blame the club’s deteriorating form to inexperience and lack of full time players.
“Most of our senior players have moved on so the team is full of inexperienced players. The few senior players in the side have to balance their jobs with the sport so it is very tricky. They rarely show up for training,” Tuyishime noted.
CSK and Rusizi joined Kigali Basketball Club (KBC) in second place (11 points) after wins over UGB and KIE. CSK thrashed UGB 73-56 while Rusizi were made to work hard for their 68-65 victory over KIE who are still chasing for their maiden win of the season after a devastating run of six defeats on the trot.
In the women league, defending champions APR proved why they have the trophy in their locker after compelling back to back wins over National University of Rwanda (NUR) 88-32 and St. Joseph (85-41).