Friday
- Espoir vs APR 7pm
- Patriots vs REG 9pm
Saturday
- M: IPRC-Kigali vs CSK 3pm
- W: The Hoops Rwanda vs APR 1pm
Sunday
- UGB vs Rusizi 9pm
- IPRC-South vs REG 12pm
Former City Oilers center Kami Kabange and his Rwanda Energy Group (REG) teammates will clash with reigning champions Patriots in the most eagerly awaited fixture in Rwandan basketball.
The two sides are expected to battle it out for the title at the end of the season and the Friday evening clash will give a glimpse of what to expect come the business end of the season.
Patriots, coached by former KIU Titans tactician Henry Mwinuka, lead the league log and are two points ahead of REG.
The two sides have lost just one game apiece this season though REG have a game in hand over their rivals.
Patriots and REG have already met thrice this season with Patriots winning twice while the latter managed one win.
REG will be led by former Patriots captain and point guard, Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana with Kabange expected to replicate his 40-point performance from last week.
“It’s going to be a tough game, probably the toughest in the season but I think we have about 95% chances of winning, they have defeated us twice but that was because we were just a new team trying to build our game and consistency,” Bahufite told Rwandan newspaper New Times ahead of the game.
Kabange and fellow big man Bievenue Ngandu have been the go-two men for REG alongside Kubwimana and small forward Patrick Nshizirungu.
“We are ready for the game. We’ve tried to work on our concentration levels and discipline because in the past games we lost the ball easily and also gave away too many fouls,” Patriots’ Mwinuka revealed ahead of the tie.
Before the big showdown at Amahoro stadium, former champions Espoir and APR will lock horns.
The Rwandan league will continue on Saturday with fourth-placed IPRC-Kigali taking on bottom side Cercle Sportif de Kigali while United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) will lock horns with Rusizi on Sunday.