Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwandan representatives APR and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) secured their tickets to the 2025 WBLA in Cairo, Egypt, after reaching the final of Zone 5 Qualifiers scheduled for Saturday, November 15 at the Nyayo Gymnasium in Nairobi, Kenya.
APR, once WBLA bronze medalists, continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing qualifiers, picking a convincing 82-61 victory over Burundi’s Les Hippos to not only qualify for Saturday’s final.
Les Hippos enjoyed hot hands off the opening whistle, going 6-0 ahead from range, but APR recovered to go ahead 7-6.
Back-to-back treys from Italee Lucas and Yacine Diop with just over three minutes in the opening quarter gave Mushumba’s side a 21-15 cushion but the Burundians kept the fight going to trail 25-22.
APR made defensive adjustments in the second quarter, going on an 11-1 run in the opening half of the period to lead 36-23.
Diedhiou Laurence Sabine took matters in her hands, scoring six in the remaining time to push Hippos to a 20-11 quarter, trailing by 12 at halftime.
The third quarter was all a Les Hippos show, cutting their deficit to eight (48-40) four minutes in. Shauqunna Nicole Collins’ pull up three brought Hippos to within six at 53-47.
Smelling blood Brittany Nichole Autry went on a five-point run that revived comeback hopes for Josue Ndimugakiza’s Hippos at 53-52. Their momentum, however, died down allowing APR to lead 61-54.
Mushumba’s side opened fire in the final quarter to play for 21-7 , a team effort that culminated with Lucas scoring 21, one more than Diop who added nine rebounds to her performance. The former gave eight assists. A’Lexxus Davis led the side’s rebounding with 10, scoring nine.
This is the second time APR are making the continental showpiece, following their debut appearance in 2024, on a wild card after finishing third in the Zonal qualifiers.
The army side went on to pick bronze in the 2024 WBLA held in Dakar, Senegal.
REG subject KPA to second defeat
APR will now be joined in the final by domestic rivals REG who handed KPA the second defeat of the campaign and eliminated them from the semifinals.
REG, finalists of WBLA in 2024, played a massive third quarter against a seemingly hapless host side KPA, outscoring them 23-6 to all but sealed victory and a place in this year’s WBLA.
REG had restricted Antony Ojukwu-led KPA to 12 points in the second and third quarter to lead by as many as 21 points with Kayana Traylor leading the charge with 18 points.
From the get go it was quickly clear, this would be a defensive masterclass as both slides looked solid, despite struggling to get in rhythm upfront.
The hosts pulled away for 9-2, capitalizing on some costly turnovers but REG fought to come close at 12-9, but KPA added four to stretch their advantage to 7 points.
Kristina King shot from range for 18-15 with 6:14 to play in the second quarter, a fast break layups from Lamla Umunezero making it a one-point game.
REG took the lead at 20-18 and again at 23-22 as the host’s ball handling plugged them into problems.
For more than five minutes of the third quarter, KPA couldn’t find their footing, going scoreless as the opponent frustrated their efforts, running the scores for 33-22.
Chantal Kiyobe led the onslaught against her former side, scoring the 11 in a 23-6 stanza that left KPA with a 17-point mountain to climb in the final quarter.
Meanwhile, KPA will compete against Burundi’s Les Hippos for third place, with the winner also likely to head to Cairo for the WBLA finals.
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