Basketball in Africa

Jean Bahufite is confident Espoir will retain the pre-season basketball tournament title, which kicked-off on Friday and will run until November 22.

The four-time reigning league and playoffs champions, Espoir finished top of pool A to qualify for the semi-finals.

The Nyamirambo-based club beat United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) 77-47 on Friday before surviving youthful IPRC-South with a narrow 64-58 victory on Saturday at Amahoro indoor stadium.

On Saturday, Espoir won the first three quarters 18-17, 18-12 and 18-16 before Didier Bineza's IPRC-South side took final quarter 13-10. IPRC-South were due to play UGB on Sunday, hoping to win and book their place in the last four.

"It was tough overcoming IPRC-South, but that is what we expected when the draws were made. We want to retain the title and I believe we will do it because we have what it takes," Bahufite said after Saturday's game.

In Pool B, APR and Patriots are through to semi-finals after both sides won against IPRC-Kigali 61-48 and 65-44 on Friday and Saturday respectively. On Sunday, Patriots defeated APR 70-54 to finish top of the group.

In women's fray, UR- CASS won 63-50 over IPRC-South on Friday before stunning APR 52-49 on Saturday but the reigning league champions recovered to beat IPRC-South 50-39 on Sunday.

Sunday

Men

IPRC-South 72-51 UGB

Patriots 70-54 APR

Women

APR 50-39 IPRC-South

Saturday

Men

Espoir 64-58 IPRC-South

Patriots 65-44 IPRC-Kigali

Women

UR-Huye 52-49 APR

Friday: Men

Espoir 77-47 UGB

IPRC-Kigali 48-61 APR

Women

UR-CASS 63-50 IPRC-South