Rwanda’s representatives at the 2014 Fiba/Africa Zone V Club Championships Espoir (men) and APR (women) lost their opening games on Day 1 on Monday in Mombasa, Kenya.
Espoir Basketball Club were stunned 64-58 by Ugandan champions City Oilers on Monday evening, just hours after APR lost to their Ugandan counterparts KCCA 36-61.
In the opening game of the regional tournament, KCCA dominated the match and took a 14-0 lead after just seven minutes of the first quarter, which they went on to win 16-6.
The Ugandan champions also dominated the next three quarters; 11-10, 18-05 and 19-15, respectively.
APR now need to win two remaining group matches – against KPA of Kenya and Government House of Ethiopia – if they are to make it out of group stages.
In the men’s category, Espoir, who lost to Burundi’s side Urunani 65-56 in last year’s final in Bujumbura, had no answer to their Ugandan opponents; City Oilers, a side looking to win their first regional title.
Espoir won Zone V title in 2012 after beating Urunani 90-39 in the final when the tournament was held in Kampala, Uganda.
Monday
KCCA 61-36 APR
City Oilers 64-58 Espoir
By Richard Bishumba, The New Times