Patriots Beat UGB to Avenge First-Round Loss

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March 31, 2025

Patriots defeated UGB 88-73 in the Rwanda Basketball League on Sunday, March 30, at Petit Stade, securing back-to-back wins and improving to a 7-3 record.

Led by Cole Elliot Lamar, Sunny Munyandamutsa’s squad dominated the first half, outscoring UGB 21-16 and 26-14 to take a 16-point lead at halftime. Although Patriots slowed down in the second half (17-20, 24-23), they maintained control to seal a 15-point victory.

Lamar led the scoring with 21 points on 6-16 shooting, including 5-13 from behind the arc, while also contributing seven assists in 30 minutes.

Ronald Kolmia Nato (15), Steven Hagumintwari (14), and Frank Kamndoh (10) played key roles, with Kamndoh also adding 11 rebounds.

UGB captain Steven Perrierre delivered a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Following a defeat at the hands of REG on March 21st, the Patriots have now won back-to-back games, beating Orion in a thrilling last-game battle.

UGB handed the Patriots their first loss of the season, defeating them 73-69 at LDK Gymnasium.

The win keeps Patriots in third place, just one victory behind second-place REG (8-2), though both teams remain far from APR’s dominant 13-0 record.

UGB holds fifth place with a 4-6 win-loss record.

APR Beats Orion 96-77 to Extend Unbeaten Streak to 12.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 29, 2025

APR Basketball Club defeated Orion 96-77, securing their 12th consecutive victory in the Rwanda Basketball League.

The back-to-back defending champions asserted their dominance on Friday night at Petit Stade, outscoring Orion to maintain their unbeaten run.

This game made history as the first-ever NBA alumnus stepped onto the court in the Rwanda Basketball League.

APR’s Jordan McRae received applause for his #RBL25 debut.

The former player for the Pistons, Nuggets, Suns, Wizards, and Cavs is the first NBA alum in the league.

A 2016 NBA champion, McRae is in 🇷🇼 to help APR defend their league and improve their performance in the BAL. pic.twitter.com/psUSmj56wx

— Ground Sports (@GroundSports1) March 28, 2025

Orion put up a strong fight against a well-rounded APR squad but struggled to keep up as the game progressed, relying heavily on just two key players.

APR — American point guard Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone

Point guard Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone was a major offensive threat for Orion, scoring 25 points, but APR head coach James Edwards Maye Jr. made the necessary adjustments to contain him in crucial moments.

In the paint, Garba Chingka Kennedy was a dominant force, tallying 22 points and 14 rebounds, forcing APR to double-team him, as Aliou Diarra alone struggled to stop him.

Garba’s dominance in the paint posed a serious threat to APR.

Despite the 19-point margin, the score does not fully reflect the intensity of the game. APR took control in the final quarter, neutralizing Orion’s key players and capitalizing on their physicality while also sinking multiple long-range shots to seal the victory.

Adonis Filer played a crucial role in the second half with strong perimeter defense on Stubbs, helping APR extend their winning streak.

Aliou Diarra led APR with 20 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Adonis Filer with 16 points, Ntore Habimana with 15 points, and both Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza and Axel Mpoyo contributing 13 points each.

APR’s Aliou Diarra displayed a double-double performance with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

For Orion, Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Garba Chingka Kennedy added 22 points and 14 rebounds. Captain Belleck also made an impact with 13 points.

APR’s unbeaten streak now stands at 12-0 while Orion currently sits in sixth place with a 3-7 record.

Photos: Innocent Shema

Damaria Franklin drops 30 points to lead Azomco past UGB for back-to-back wins.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 27, 2025

American guard Damaria Franklin’s 30-point performance against UGB secured Azomco’s back-to-back victory and their second overall win in the Rwanda Basketball League.

Following an overtime thriller against Kepler last weekend, a determined Azomco dominated UGB, fueled by a stellar double-double performance from Damaria Franklin.

Franklin, Azomco’s leading scorer, was once again unstoppable, dropping 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in 35 minutes on the floor. His performance marked his seventh double-digit outing in eight games this season.

The 26-year-old guard is averaging 22.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025. Thanks to his consecutive 30-point performances against Kepler and UGB, Azomco has not only climbed out of the relegation zone but is also emerging as a serious threat to teams they will face in the second round.

Franklin’s dominance in the first round has been further boosted by the arrival of Richard Bizimungu, who joined the squad before the second round.

Bizimungu dominated the boards, recording double-doubles and grabbing 32 rebounds in two games.

After finishing the first round with a dismal 0-8 record, Azomco has flipped the script in the second round, now standing at 2-0 and 2-8 overall. Their resurgence has seen them escape the relegation zone for the first time this season, leaving Espoir BBC at the bottom with a 1-9 record.

Azomco’s newfound momentum will face its toughest test yet on Sunday when they take on the unbeaten APR at Petit Stade.

The Expanded FIFA Club World Cup to Kick Off with a Massive Prize Pool

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 26, 2025

FIFA announced on Tuesday, March 25, a $1 billion prize fund for the expanded Club World Cup, with the tournament winner set to receive $125 million.

The expanded FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams from all continents, will take place from June 14 to July 13 in the U.S. with amazing prize money and participation bonuses.

Expanding from seven to 32 teams across all six confederations, the FIFA Club World Cup will distribute the $1 billion prize fund among all participating teams based on various factors. Of this, $525 million will be divided among all clubs, while $475 million will be awarded based on performance.

Gianni Infantino, the boss International Federation of Association Football stated that the tournament’s financial model reflects the most prestigious and elite level of competition in club football history.

“The distribution model of the FIFA Club World Cup reflects the pinnacle of club football and represents the biggest-ever prize money for a football tournament comprising a seven-match group stage and playoff format with a potential payout of USD 125 million foreseen for the winners,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

According to the distribution plan announced by FIFA, all 32 participating teams will receive payments based on a ranking system that considers both sporting and commercial criteria.

European teams will get between $12.81 million and $38.19 million each, South American teams $15.21 million, teams from North/Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa $9.55 million, and Oceania’s representative $3.58 million.

Each team will play three group-stage matches, earning a $2 million bonus for a win and $1 million for a draw. Teams that advance to the Round of 16 will receive an additional $7.5 million.

Quarter-finalists will receive additional $13.125 million, semi-finalists $21 million, runners-up $30 million, and the champions $40 million.

FIFA has also pledged to allocate $250 million to clubs worldwide that did not qualify for the tournament. However, the exact distribution method and amounts for these clubs are yet to be determined.

“In addition to the prize money for the participating teams, there is an unprecedented solidarity investment program where we have a target of an additional 250 million dollars being provided to club football across the world. This solidarity will undoubtedly provide a significant boost in our ongoing efforts in making football truly global.” said Infantino

“Not only that, but FIFA will neither retain any funding for this tournament, as all revenues will be distributed to club football, nor will it touch FIFA’s reserves, which are set aside for global football development through the 211 FIFA Member Associations.” Added FIFA boss

The highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature four African clubs, including Egypt’s Al Ahly (the reigning CAF Champions League champions), Wydad AC, ES de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Lesotho held Rwanda to a 1-1 draw in front of a packed Amahoro Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 25, 2025

Lehlohonolo Fothoane’s 82nd-minute goal for Lesotho canceled out Jojea Kwizera’s stunning opener for Rwanda, silencing the 45,000 fans who had filled the stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Group C clash on March 25.

Rwanda, having won the first-leg encounter against Lesotho, entered the match eager to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Nigeria just three days earlier at the same venue.

As they did against Nigeria, Rwandan fans turned up in large numbers to support Amavubi.

The home side dominated possession and finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Jojea Kwizera, who had also scored in the first-leg win over Lesotho, controlled a long pass from Thierry Manzi before beating goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane to send the crowd into celebration.

Despite maintaining possession, Rwanda’s attacking threat diminished as the game progressed. Lesotho took advantage, and in the 82nd minute, Lehlohonolo Fothoane struck the equalizer, silencing the home supporters.

The 1-1 draw, following the loss to Nigeria, has left Rwandan fans questioning the future of Adel Amrouche’s team, especially after his predecessor, Torsten Frank Spittler, had already won their hearts with his approach.

Rwanda currently sits second in Group C with eight points, trailing leaders South Africa (13 points). Up next, Amavubi will travel to Nigeria in September for a crucial qualifier.

Patriots Edge Orion in a Hard-Fought Battle

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 24, 2025

Patriots defeated Orion 78-72 in a hard-fought game that was decided in the final 47 seconds, bouncing back from two consecutive losses to improve to 6-3 in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025.

Cole Elliot Lamar led the charge with 28 points on Sunday, March 23, helping the Patriots recover from setbacks against APR and REG.

Patriots dominated early, leading by 12 after three quarters (24-15, 19-18, 22-20), but Orion, led by Stubbs, rallied to tie it at 72 with 47 seconds left.

The seasoned American point guard Lamar then drew three fouls and calmly sank all six free throws, sealing the Patriots’ victory and snapping their losing streak.

Lamar finished with a team-high 28 points, shooting 8-of-26 from the field, including 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. On the other side, Orion’s Stubbs Jeffrey Tyrone delivered an outstanding performance, posting a game-high 30 points, along with 7 rebounds and 9 assists.

Later, APR stayed perfect at 11-0, crushing Espoir 91-64 behind Diarra’s 24-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Earlier at the same venue, Azomco made history by securing their first-ever RBL win in an overtime thriller against Kepler.

APR leads the standings at 11-0, followed by REG at 8-1 and Patriots at 6-3. Meanwhile, the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot remains tight, with UGB (4-4) currently holding the edge over Kepler (3-5) and Tigers (3-5).

With Azomco’s first win, the relegation battle is heating up. Both Azomco and Espoir have just one win each, and only one team is set to be relegated.

APR Teams to Battle Police Teams in Rwanda Volleyball League Playoff Finals

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 23, 2025

The defending champions, APR, in both the men’s and women’s categories, will face the top-seeded Police teams in the Rwanda Volleyball League Playoffs 2025 Finals in a mouth-watering battle between security entities.

March 22 – Petit Stade, Police Volleyball Clubs set tones for the finals after edging past REG (men) and Kepler (women) to set up a championship clash against reigning champions APR.

In the women’s category, Police VC swept Kepler 2-0 in the best-of-three series to advance to the finals, where APR had already eased past RRA in straight sets on Friday.

The rivalry between APR and Police in women’s volleyball is well-established, and Police will be looking to avenge last season’s upset, when APR came from one game down to defeat them and claim the league title.

In the men’s category, Police stunned REG in four sets, winning the series 2-0 to book their finals ticket. They will now face the army team APR, who dominated Kepler with back-to-back 3-0 to secure their place in the championship round.

APR, who defeated Kepler in last season’s playoff finals, will now take on Police in a highly anticipated battle—one that many predicted.

Both teams split wins in the regular season before clashing again in the Zone V Finals, where APR dethroned Police VC in Kampala. Notably, Police have only suffered two losses this season, both at the hands of APR, adding extra intensity to this final series.

With army teams and law enforcement dominating the local and regional volleyball scene, this final will be a battle of powerhouses.

The best-of-three series will determine the 2025 Rwanda Volleyball League champions, with Game 1 set for Friday, March 28, at Petit Stade.

APR Stuns UGB to Extend Unbeaten Run to 9-0 in RBL 2025

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 20, 2025

APR's Adonis Filer led the game with 22 points against UGB.

APR Basketball Club started the second leg of the 2025 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) with the same momentum from the first leg, defeating UGB 86-59 and extending their perfect record to 9-0.

On March 19 at Petit Stade, APR continued its dominant run in RBL 2025, completing a season double over UGB.

Despite missing numerous players—including Antino Jackson Alvalezes, Victor Mukama, Otobo Israel, Chris Ruta, and Axel Mpoyo (who stayed on the bench without playing)—the back-to-back defending champions once again proved their supremacy. They had previously defeated UGB 86-61 in the first leg.

The army team controlled all four quarters and never trailed, handing UGB its fourth loss of the season.

Aliou Diarra led APR with a double-double, recording 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Off the bench, Adonis Filer delivered a game-high 22 points, along with 5 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals in just 25 minutes.

Aliou Diarra’s dominance in the paint continues to trouble APR’s opponents in the RBL

For UGB, Doumbya Mohamed posted a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, but he lacked sufficient support. Debutant Amatoe James Kofi had a forgettable night, failing to score or grab a rebound in his 12 minutes on the court.

Earlier at the same venue, Jacques Boissy’s 31-point performance powered REG BBC to a 91-87 win over Espoir, improving their record to 7-1. Espoir (1-8) put up a strong fight in the final quarter, but REG’s game management secured the victory.

RBL 2025 Standings (Top 4)
1. APR—9-0
2. REG—7-1
3. Patriots—5-2
4. UGB—4-4

Only the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.

APR Edges Patriots to Seal Perfect 8-0 RBL First Leg.

By

Evode Munyeshuri

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March 17, 2025

Back-to-back Rwanda Basketball League champions APR BBC narrowly defeated Patriots 68-67 to complete the first leg with a flawless 8-0 record.

APR Basketball extended their unbeaten run on Sunday, March 17, at Petit Stade, as Adonis Filer’s clutch three-pointer denied the Patriots a historic upset.

Sunny Munyandamutsa’s Patriots built an early 28-20 first-quarter lead and maintained their advantage until the final period. However, APR’s big man Aliou Diarra led a late surge, closing the gap before Filer’s game-winning three-pointer with just one second left.

Despite struggling throughout the game, Filer came through in the clutch, adding another crucial win to APR’s streak after last week’s overtime thriller against REG.

Malian center Aliou Diarra shined in his return from a two-week ankle injury, posting 29 points and 15 rebounds. Ntore Habimana added 13 points, 9 rebounds, and a game-shaping assist to Filer.

For the Patriots, Ronald Kolmia recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Cole Elliot Lamar contributed 14 points, suffering his first RBL defeat.

The Army team leads the standings at 8-0, followed by REG (6-1) and Patriots (5-2), with the latter two set to face off in their final first-leg matchup.

APR Teams Begin Playoffs with Emphatic Wins Over Kepler and RRA

By

Evode Munyeshuri

-

March 16, 2025

APR men’s and women’s volleyball teams started the Rwanda Volleyball League playoffs with strong performances, securing victories over Kepler and RRA. The wins put them one step closer to the finals as they aim to defend their titles.

On Saturday, March 15, at Petit Stade, APR Volleyball Club dominated Kepler in straight sets in the men’s category, while APR WVC fought off an RRA comeback to win in a decisive fifth set.

Riding high on momentum from the CAVB Zone V Club Championship, Peter Kamasa’s APR entered the postseason as the third seed and edged second-seeded RRA in Game 1.

APR WVC edged RRA in a thrilling five-set battle.

The Army side started strong, claiming the first two sets 30-28 and 25-21 before Elie Mutabazi’s RRA staged a dramatic comeback, winning the next two sets 25-23 and 25-22 to force a decider. However, APR regained control, sealing the match with a commanding 15-8 victory in the final set.

APR WVC’s receiver-attacker Valentine Munezero celebrates after their Game 1 victory over RRA.

In the men’s category, APR stunned Kepler in straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

APR VC beat Kepler in straight sets to take a 1-0 lead in the Rwanda National League playoffs.

With these opening wins, the defending champions and Zone V titleholders are now just one game away from returning to the finals.

Last season, APR defeated Kepler 2-1 in the finals, while the women’s team came from behind to beat Police 2-1.

This year, anticipation is high for a potential APR-Police showdown in both the men’s and women’s finals. The Police Volleyball Clubs, top seeds in the regular season, lead their respective series against REG and Kepler after the first games.

Game 2 of the Rwanda National Volleyball League playoffs is set for next Friday and Saturday.

Patriots Beat UGB to Avenge First-Round Loss

Patriots defeated UGB 88-73 in the Rwanda Basketball League on Sunday, March 30, at Petit Stade, securing back-to-back wins and improving to a 7-3 record.

APR Beats Orion 96-77 to Extend Unbeaten Streak to 12.

APR Basketball Club defeated Orion 96-77, securing their 12th consecutive victory in the Rwanda Basketball League.

Damaria Franklin drops 30 points to lead Azomco past UGB for back-to-back wins.

American guard Damaria Franklin’s 30-point performance against UGB secured Azomco’s back-to-back victory and their second overall win in the Rwanda Basketball League.

The Expanded FIFA Club World Cup to Kick Off with a Massive Prize Pool

FIFA announced on Tuesday, March 25, a $1 billion prize fund for the expanded Club World Cup, with the tournament winner set to receive $125 million.

Lesotho held Rwanda to a 1-1 draw in front of a packed Amahoro Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers.

Lehlohonolo Fothoane’s 82nd-minute goal for Lesotho canceled out Jojea Kwizera’s stunning opener for Rwanda, silencing the 45,000 fans who had filled the stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Group C clash on March 25.

Patriots Edge Orion in a Hard-Fought Battle

Patriots defeated Orion 78-72 in a hard-fought game that was decided in the final 47 seconds, bouncing back from two consecutive losses to improve to 6-3 in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025.

APR Teams to Battle Police Teams in Rwanda Volleyball League Playoff Finals

The defending champions, APR, in both the men’s and women’s categories, will face the top-seeded Police teams in the Rwanda Volleyball League Playoffs 2025 Finals in a mouth-watering battle between security entities.

APR Stuns UGB to Extend Unbeaten Run to 9-0 in RBL 2025

APR Basketball Club started the second leg of the 2025 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) with the same momentum from the first leg, defeating UGB 86-59 and extending their perfect record to 9-0.

APR Edges Patriots to Seal Perfect 8-0 RBL First Leg.

Back-to-back Rwanda Basketball League champions APR BBC narrowly defeated Patriots 68-67 to complete the first leg with a flawless 8-0 record.

APR Teams Begin Playoffs with Emphatic Wins Over Kepler and RRA

APR men’s and women’s volleyball teams started the Rwanda Volleyball League playoffs with strong performances, securing victories over Kepler and RRA. The wins put them one step closer to the finals as they aim to defend their titles.

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