The Rwanda national basketball team, APR BBC, clinched a spot in the semifinals of the Genocide Memorial Tournament after defeating REG BBC 81–68 in a thrilling match on Friday night, April 25, 2025.Instagram
The game began with high intensity from both sides. REG’s Espoir Aganze opened the scoring with a quick two-pointer, but APR’s Diarra Aliou responded immediately. The teams exchanged baskets, keeping the score close. However, APR’s Chasson made a significant impact, hitting three consecutive three-pointers, giving APR a 31–21 lead over REG.
In the second quarter, the game continued with intense competition. REG attempted to close the gap, aided by their key players Prinsloo and Boissy. Despite their efforts, the deficit remained at seven points, with APR leading 43–36 at halftime.
After the break, REG’s Prinsloo and Muhizi were in excellent form, helping the team to equalize at 61–61 by the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was crucial for both teams. With just four minutes remaining, REG’s Jean Jacques Boissy was ejected for two technical fouls after expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating. This gave APR an advantage, which they capitalized on with strong defense from Diarra, who also led all scorers with 22 points.
APR secured the victory with an 81–68 scoreline, earning their place in the semifinals.
In the earlier match, Dar City from Tanzania defeated Patriots BBC 78–64. Dar City’s Obadiah Noel was the standout player, scoring 22 points. With this win, Dar City also advanced to the semifinals, joining UGB, who topped Group B.
In the women’s category, REG W BBC triumphed over JKL Lady Dolphins 80–73, while APR W BBC narrowly lost to KPA W BBC from Kenya, 61–67.
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Petit Stade in Kigali. The matchups are as follows:
- 13:30 – KPA W BBC vs. JKL Lady Dolphins
- 16:00 – APR W BBC vs. REG W BBC
- 18:30 – UGB vs. KPA
- 21:00 – Dar City vs. APR BBC
All matches will be held at the Petit Stade.