Reigning national basketball champions Espoir and three-time Fiba Africa Zone V champions APR square off this afternoon in the first semi-final of the national Heroes Day hoops tourney at Cercle sportif court.

The inaugural national Heroes Day basketball tournament started on January 23 and will reach the climax tomorrow with both men and women’s finals as well as third place play-offs at Amahoro indoors stadium.

Espoir coach Jean Bahufite told Saturday Sport that his side is in good form and ready for APR’s challenge this afternoon.

In the other men’s semi-final clash, hosts and last season’s league first runners-up Cercle Sportif de Kigali will be up against the winners between UGB and IPRC- Kigali at 4p.m. UGB played IPRC-Kigali last evening at NPC gymnasium but the game had not ended by press time.

The Heroes Day tourney is also serving as a warm-up for the teams ahead of the league start on February 7.

Espoir and Ubumwe are holders of last year’s preseason tournaments titles in the men and women’s categories, respectively.