APR and REG dominated the inaugural Rwanda Super Cups, securing wins in both men’s and women’s games. APR’s Malian center Aliou Diarra shined with 19 points, while REG kept APR at bay, beating them 76-64, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 season.
Last Updated on
January 23, 2025
In a thrilling opening to the 2025 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) season, Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) made history by clinching the first-ever FERWABA Super Cup titles, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. Following a successful 2024 campaign where APR's men's team claimed the domestic double by winning both the RBL Championship and the Rwandan Cup, expectations were high.
However, their performance in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) fell short, finishing fourth in the Sahara Conference after a promising 2-1 start. On January 17, APR turned the page with an impressive 73-53 victory over REG at the illustrious BK Arena.
Conversely, the women's final witnessed a surprising twist as REG's women's team triumphed over APR, 76-64, claiming their first trophy of 2025. This upset was monumental, considering APR's women's team had earned a bronze medal in the recent Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) in December 2024, the premier women's basketball league in Africa. Last season, REG dominated APR in the domestic RBL Championship playoffs, sweeping them with a resounding 4-0 in the final.
The newly introduced Super Cup, established by FERWABA in 2023, is designed to tip off every Rwanda Basketball League season. The format pits the league champions against the Rwanda Cup winners in a one-off showdown. APR demonstrated tenacity in the men's clash, rallying from a small first-quarter deficit. APR surged ahead after a closely contested first half, bending but never breaking to secure victory. Star player Aliou Diarra captivated the crowd, leading APR with 19 points and critical contributions from teammates Ntore Habimana and Osborn Shema.
Meanwhile, REG's women's team delivered a statement performance in the final, with Lamla Umunezero scoring 20 points to spearhead the victory. After trailing at halftime, REG unleashed a powerful third-quarter performance, outscoring APR 28-6, which effectively determined the outcome of the game. The turnaround solidified REG's dominance over their rivals following their playoff successes last season and allowed REG to heal after finishing sixth in the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa.
The Super Cup's debut demonstrated the competitive spirit of Rwandan basketball and the potential for thrilling narratives as teams gear up for another exciting season.
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