Friday

APR vs 30-Plus 6pm

REG vs Patriots 8pm

Saturday

CSK vs IPRC-Kigali 11am

Espoir vs IPRC-South 1pm

It promises to be fireworks when basketball league defending champions Patriots take on newcomers Rwanda Energy Group (REG) on Friday evening at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

Both sides started their 2016/17 season last week with resounding wins—Patriots defeated United Generation Basketball (UGB) 95-34 while REG overcame Rusizi 93-65 and both teams will be aiming to win today and maintain their perfect start.

The two pre-season top title contenders will be facing each other for the second time in three weeks, with REG seeking to revenge for a narrow 76-75 loss in the final of the pre-season tournament.

Speaking to Times Sport on Thursday, REG captain Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana, who signed from Patriots, revealed that they have an extra motivation to want to get one over their opponents.

"We have prepared for this game for a whole week, it will be really frustrating to lose to the same side in a space of just three weeks, that is why we have had to put in extra work in training,” said Kubwimana.

Meanwhile, his former teammate and Patriots’ key player, Chris Walter Nkurunziza, also asserts that, "We expect a tough game but we are a better side and very ready, we want to win every game this season.”

The REG vs Patriots game will be preceded by the game between APR and 30-Plus. APR that have won their first two games will hope to climb up the league chart with victory against Kimisagara-based side that lost their opening two games.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw