Coach Ogoh Oduadu's REG begins Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs with a win

...We will not lift our feet off the pedal in game 2 - Odaudu

...As Patriots gave their domestic rivals APR a reality check

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by NTR

Nigeria born coach of Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club, Ogoh Oduadu, started the best of five games league playoffs semi finals matchup with a win.

REG took Game 1 of the semifinals playoffs, beating UGB 82-74 courtesy of a stellar performance from Cleveland Thomas Jr who dropped 33 points in the win.

After the game, coach Ogoh Odaudu had this to say in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye.

“We didn't end game 1 properly, so it was a concern for me, I'm hoping we're going to come and clean it up today and do a better job in the third and fourth quarter than we did in the first game, but all in all, we are happy with the first game, hopefully we'll do better today and make it 2-0.”

Odaudu, one of the coaches of Nigeria's D'Tigers, explained how the team failed to blow their opponent apart in the second half.

“At halftime we were up by 25 points already, during the third quarter, fourth quarter, we had taken our foot off the gas, that's why the game was that close, but for us, a win is a win, we are going to work on that today we are going to play till the end of the game, we are going to hustle and play hard, keeping the momentum throughout the game.”

The team returns into action for game 2 on Sunday, June 22nd at the BK Arena.

Meanwhile, Patriots gave their domestic rivals APR a reality check in the Rwanda Basketball League playoffs, by beating them 78-61 in semifinals Game 1 at BK Arena.

Point guard Williams Isiah Rasheed contributed 16 points and 6 assists to the win, as Patriots handed the Rwandan champions a big upset in what promises to be a tough best-of-five series.

The playoffs started at a big pace given that, among other reasons, the champions represent Rwanda in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

While APR seeks to go back to the continental competition for the third time in a row, Patriots also set a reminder that they want to return to the big stage for the first time in five years.

Sunny Niyomugabo’s charges dominated the first two quarters, taking the first quarter 21-13, and the second quarter 24-18 to go into half-time leading 45-31. APR looked a different side with their star center Aliou Diarra who was taken off in the second quarter after suffering an injury.

James Maye Jr’s men came into the second half looking more energized, making less defensive mistakes to steal the third quarter 16-12 to narrow the deficit to 10 points going into the final quarter.

However, Patriots remained superior as they took the final quarter 21-14 to take home Game 1 with merit.

Cadeau de Dieu Furaha contributed 15 points while new signing Putney Raphiael Rashad added 13 points. On the other hand, Antino Jackson topped APR’s score-sheet with 19 points, followed by Youssoupha Ndoye who scored 10 points as Axel Mpoyo contributed 8 points.

The semifinals will be played in a best of five series.

Semi-finals-Game 1

REG 82-74 UGB

Patriots 78-61 APR

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