Today

Patriots vs UGB (Amahoro Indoor Stadium, 6pm)

After dethroning Espoir BBC to win the 2015/2016 regular National Basketball League crown a fortnight ago, Patriots Basketball Club are keen to win a treble this season.

Patriots face United Generation Basketball (UGB) in the final Group B fixture at Amahoro indoor Stadium, kick-off 6pm. The two-year old side will be hoping to become the first side to qualify for semi-finals of the ongoing local Gisembe genocide Memorial Tournament after defeating IPRC- South and APR over the weekend. Patriots are eyeing to also win the ongoing Genocide Memorial (local and international) Tournaments and the forthcoming Play-off Games to seal a treble.

The Kagugu-based giants won the national championship on May 21 in Huye District after overcoming closest archrivals IPRC- South at home in a 52-45 hard fought victory.

In an exclusive interview with Times Sport on Tuesday, Patriots head coach Henry Mwinuke, said his men are in buoyant mood and good form for a treble this season.

"We want to win everything around, we have been consistent this season and all we need now is to keep the momentum. We are focusing on one tournament at a time, currently our attention is on the Genocide Memorial Tournament) then Play-Offs afterwards,” Mwinuke told this paper.

"The club management has been so supportive all season long; it’s been one of our pivotal sources of motivation. I am confident in my players; they have already proved what they are capable,” the Tanzanian-born technician added.

The top four (two in each group) from the local tourney, will advance to the round of last four and automatically book tickets to the international showdown slated for June 10-12 in Kigali.

Last year, while enjoying their maiden season, Patriots finished second in the league and reached the finals of the play-off games, only to lose 3-1 to Espoir in the best-of-five finals.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw