Kepler Women’s Basketball Club advanced to their first-ever Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) Finals after defeating APR 72-47 in Game 4, clinching the semifinal series 3-1 on Sunday, August 17, at Petit Stade.
Young Desi-Rae Yvonne’s double-double led Kepler, only in their second RBL season, to a historic semifinal triumph over record champions APR.
Game 4 saw Kinyinya-based side respond with determination after APR’s Game 3 win.
The first quarter was tight, 16–15, but APR collapsed in the second, scoring only three points as Desi-Rae and her teammates surged to a 29–18 halftime lead.
Luis Lopez Hernandez’s team never looked back, extending their advantage in the third, 16-13, and sealing the game in the fourth, 27-16, for a resounding 72-47 finish.
APR’s Destiney Philoxy scored 18 points and Kamba Diakite added 14, but Kepler’s starting five all reached double figures: Yvonne 23 points and 15 rebounds, Henriette Uwimpuhwe 12, Nelly Akariza 12, Aichata Traore 11, and Sandra Nelly Nsanzabaganwa 10.
The Keplerians produced only four points off the bench yet still controlled the game from start to finish.
Kepler now advance to face two-time defending champions REG WBBC, who swept The Hoops in the other semifinal.
The finals will be a best-of-seven series to crown the 2025 RBL champions.
