Wamukota seals second title win in Rwanda as APR break 14 year drought

Kenyan power forward Tom Bush Wamukota is now a two time champion of the Rwanda Basketball League after seeing his side - APR BBC - end their 14 year title drought with a finals series victory over rivals REG on Friday 8 September.

The 80-68 win on the day capped an impressive team run for the Rwanda military-owned side as they completed a 4-0 sweep - one that saw them finish off the 2022-23 season on a seven game winning streak.

Despite not being involved in the latter stages of the season, Wamukota, who signed with the team in October 2022, now has two rings in the country to show, with his first title coming in 2021 when he was part of the Patriots BBC team that won the league then.

The Kenyan would also go on to represent his former team in the inaugural edition of the Basketball Africa League in 2021.

It remains to be seen whether the former Wichita State Shocker’s men’s basketball team will be at the team next season when they play in the 2024 Basketball Africa League, as his one year contract with APR draws to a close.

Wamukota was however not the only Kenyan to bask in the win at the BK Arena in Kigali, as Kenya Morans national basketball team head coach Cliff Owour - who works as APR’s assistant coach - was also involved all through the season.

The Kenyan coach - who regained his spot in the national team set up prior to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan championships - worked with lead coach Maz Trakh who was awarded the coach of the year, with the duo of Nkusi Aimé Karim and Igor Mugisha acting as the first and second assistant coaches.

APR’s Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza with 13 points and 11 rebounds was awarded the league playoffs’ Most Valuable Player.

Wamukota had in May this year been involved in an exhibition game for his team that saw them register a 75-71 victory over NBA Africa’s team in Game 4 of their Rwanda Tour at the LDK Arena.

Wamukota features in BAL Elevate Showcase game in Kigali

The former US Monastir man also represented the Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) in the Basketball Africa League Elevate Showcase game against NBA-affiliated side NBA Academy at the BK Arena in Kigali, where he scored a 10 points, 12 rebounds double double in a 57-67 losing effort.