APR Punish REG in High-Stakes Clash, Dominating Fourth Quarter to Seal WBLA Qualifiers Final Victory

APR Punish REG in High-Stakes Clash, Dominating Fourth Quarter to Seal WBLA Qualifiers Final Victory

APR flipped the script on a familiar rivalry and, in doing so, claimed far more than a trophy-less final. In what was a rematch of the 2025 Rwanda Cup Final, a game REG had dominated 79-52, APR arrived at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium with one thing in mind: revenge and bragging rights.

Both teams had already qualified for the 2025 Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) in Cairo, but that only sharpened the competitive edge. This one was about pride, history, and sending a message before the end of the year.

From the opening tip, APR made it clear they weren’t planning to repeat the script from Kigali. They pounced first, taking control of the tempo and punishing REG’s slow start with a sharp 22-12 first quarter. Their offence flowed through patient half-court execution, and their defensive rotations cut off REG’s usual driving lanes. By halftime, Charles Mushumba’s side had constructed a sturdy 40-28 cushion, a 12-point lead that felt like the product of poise rather than luck.

REG, however, is still Rwanda’s reigning champion for a reason, and the third quarter reminded everyone why. With Kristina King powering the paint and Kayana Traylor carving gaps off the dribble, they mounted their most convincing push of the evening. King delivered a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, finishing 8-of-14 from the field and giving REG their most reliable interior presence.

Traylor matched that urgency with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Their combined effort fueled a 29-19 surge that suddenly shaved APR’s lead down to just two. For a moment, the momentum felt irreversible, but APR refused to let the tide swing fully.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the ladies in black and green. APR’s response was a commanding 23-11 statement, built on intensity, discipline, and a backcourt that answered every REG punch with one of their own.

Destiney Promise Philoxy was everywhere, scoring 17 points in 36 minutes while shooting 80% inside the arc (4-of-5) and knocking down 6-of-7 at the line. Her relentlessness kept APR ahead whenever REG tried to force the issue.

Italee Lucas, playing the full 40 minutes, paired her 16 points with a game-high eight assists, orchestrating the offence with a mix of pace control and timely scoring, despite going 5-of-15 from the field.

Assouma Uwizeye added a crucial spark with 14 points on an ultra-efficient 5-of-7 shooting. In comparison, captain Yacine Diop matched Lucas with 16 points of her own, attacking gaps and finishing 75% from the stripe.

But the most significant swing factor came from the bench. Kamba Yoro Diakité delivered her finest performance of the qualifiers, pouring in a team-high 19 points in just over 36 minutes. She hit 3-of-6 from two-point range and was flawless at the line (7-of-7), providing APR with stabilising offence during the third-quarter turbulence and key daggers in the fourth.

The only starter who didn’t hit the scoreboard, A’Lexxus Faith Davis, limited to under 16 minutes, didn’t slow APR’s rhythm. The collective stepped up to keep control.

By the final buzzer, APR’s balanced scoring, gritty defence, and refusal to fold under REG’s third-quarter surge earned them a deserved, and symbolic, win. They took three of the four quarters, controlled the physicality, and left Nairobi with the satisfaction of settling a score months in the making.

For REG, King and Traylor shone, but the fourth-quarter drought proved costly. For APR, this was a night where everything aligned: structure, effort, and execution.

Most importantly, it was a reminder that when these two meet again in Cairo, the rivalry won’t just be renewed; it might be even better.
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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/WBLA]