APR saw their playoff hopes take a hit on Thursday night in Kigali, as South Africa’s Made By Ball (MBB) edged them out 94-88 in a fiercely contested Nile Conference showdown. The loss not only marked APR’s second defeat of the campaign but also intensified the pressure on the Rwandan side, who had the chance to secure early qualification for the BAL playoffs—an opportunity they let slip through their fingers.
With the loss, APR missed a crucial chance to punch their ticket to June’s playoffs in Pretoria and now find themselves under pressure, as the battle for a top-two teams in the Nile Conference grows increasingly intense.
MBB's Jovan Mooring led all scorers with 29 points, while 7-foot-2 center David Craig recorded 10 crucial rebounds, 9 points, and 2 blocks.
Their first matchup had seen MBB collapse in the third quarter. This time, they showed more determination—and stayed relentless.
Although the Lions were without the injured Aliou Diarra, they trailed by just one at the end of the first quarter, 16-15. Youssou Ndoye’s powerful and-one early in the second quarter gave APR a fleeting lead, and they scrapped their way to a 39-38 halftime advantage.
But the third quarter proved decisive—and devastating for APR. MBB flipped the script from their previous meeting, delivering a commanding 29-19 run, fueled by Mooring, Teafale Lenard Jr., and sharp perimeter shooting from Robinson Odoch Opong and Lebesa Selepe.
APR refused to fold. With the crowd roaring, Ndoye’s thunderous dunk cut the deficit to five late in the fourth, igniting hope. But missed free throws from William Robeyns and a timely bucket by Pieter Prinsloo halted the comeback. Noel’s deep three gave the home fans a moment of renewed belief—only for Opong to sprint back and silence the arena with a quick layup.
The final buzzer sounded with MBB holding on—and APR suddenly staring down the possibility of a premature exit.
Now at 2-2, APR must regroup fast. A single slip-up or another win for MBB could send the Rwandan champions spiraling out of contention. Though APR hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over MBB, time—and margin for error—is rapidly running out.
The next game is crucial for Rwanda’s representatives. Finishing third is a risk the hosts can’t afford to take. While Nairobi City Thunder’s ongoing struggles may offer some relief, securing a strong finish is the surest path forward. The third-place team will only advance if their record surpasses FUS Rabat’s 2-4 mark and -19 point differential from the Kalahari Conference.