IPRC-Kigali are optimistic on halting Patriots’ perfect start of the season when the two sides square-offon Fridayevening as the national basketball championship returns from a three-week festive break.

Table leaders Patriots who are yet to lose a game out of three played this season, host IPRC-Kigali at Amahoro indoor stadium, at8pm. This game will be preceded by the game pitying defending champions Espoir against United Generation Basketball Club, at6pm.

Albert Buhake’s IPRC- Kigali will also be eyeing to recover from 98-65 defeat to Maxime Mwiseneza’s Espoir three weeks ago.

"Our target is to win as many games as we can. All our attention is on Patriots game. Consistency is very important; we want to bounce back from the Espoir defeat,” Buhake told Times Sport on Thursday.

On Saturday, Rusizi play Owour’s APR at Amahoro indoor stadium while struggling Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) host title hopefuls IPRC-South.

In the women’s league, reigning champions APR will play the 2014 champions Ubumwe with Eric Dusabimana’s The Hoops Rwanda facing Huye-based IPRC-South, both games at Amahoro indoor stadium.

U18 National Team joins the league

Meanwhile, the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) has added the national men’s junior (U18) team to the ongoing league as a way of preparing the team for this year’s continental championship to be staged in Rwanda.

The youthful team will be coached by the national basketball team head coach Moise Mutokambali and will open the league against Charles Mushumba’s UR-CASS on Saturday afternoon.