APR BBC moved to within one victory of a fourth consecutive Rwanda Basketball League title after defeating Patriots BBC 101-92 in Game 3 of the men’s Cheetah Energy RBL Playoffs at BK Arena on Saturday night.
The defending champions now lead the best-of-seven final series 3-0 and need only one more win to complete a clean sweep and retain the national championship.
Patriots started strongly and held a narrow 46-45 lead at halftime after winning the second quarter 26-24. APR had edged the opening quarter 21-20.
The turning point came in the third quarter, when APR produced a dominant 35-22 performance to take control of the game. Patriots won the final quarter 24-21, but APR had already built an advantage that proved decisive.
Marquise Teafale Lenard Jr led APR with 29 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and five blocks. Leonard Craig Randall II added 26 points, while William Robeyns Geralde scored 18, Filer Jovon Adonis 11 and Ntore Habimana 10.
APR’s three-point shooting again proved decisive, with the champions making 17 three-pointers. Robeyns Geralde accounted for six of them.
Patriots, coached by Niyomugabo Munyandamutsa Sunny, made eight three-pointers, with Hubert Sage Kwizera contributing three.
APR can seal the championship in Game 4 on Monday, August 24, when the two sides meet again at BK Arena at 9:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, REG BBC levelled the third-place playoff series against RSSB Tigers BBC at 1-1 after a 78-54 victory.
The five-game series will be decided by the first team to win three games. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at 4:40 p.m. at BK Arena.
The APR-Patriots Game 4 will follow later in the evening and could see APR crowned champions for a fourth consecutive season.
