Sunday

MenUganda vs Rwanda - 4pm

WomenUganda vs Kenya - 5pm

AS the Fiba Zone V basketball championship reaches a climax today, all eyes will be on the Rwanda team which is seeking to qualify for the Afrobasket finals. 

Rwanda faces off with hosts and archrivals Uganda in a game they need to win in order to book their berth at next year’s continental tournament which will be held in Tunisia.

Moise Mutokambali’s team have won 2 of 3 games played (beating Kenya 82-77 and Somalia 85-71).

They lost to defending champions Egypt in their first game of the tournament 79-63, a team that beat them twice in last year’s tournament held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania—in the group stage and final.

Uganda beat Somalia in their first game and lost to title favorites Egypt in the second game. The hosts were due in action against Kenya but by press time the outcome of that game was not yet known. Egypt have won 3 games and guaranteed a spot at the Africa championships.

Somalia have lost all their games and are out of contention, leaving Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda fighting for second spot left for qualification.

The top two teams at the end of the tournament will represent Zone Five at the FIBA Africa Championship.

Speaking to Sunday Sport from Kampala, Mutokambali said his team is well prepared to edge Uganda in-front of what is expected to be a hostile crowd in Lugogo Arena.

He said: "We are going to be up against a technically very good side that will be playing in-front of their fans who will try their best to put us under pressure, but we are experienced enough to know how to deal with that sort of situation.”

Rwanda will rely on the likes of Aristide Mugabe, Kenneth Gasana, Lionel Hakizimana and Kami Kabangu. Mugabe was outstanding in their crucial win over Kenya scoring 21 points and dishing out 6 assists.

On the other side, Uganda will be hoping to have similar dominant performances from Henry Malinga, John Balwigaire (scored a game-high 25 points against Egypt).

In the women’s category, Kenya girls sit on-top of the table with maximum 4 points from two matches in the round-robin affair to boost their chances of retaining the regional title.