Saturday

WomenAPR vs Ubumwe 1pm

MenGroup AUGB vs APR 3pmPatriots vs REG 7pm

Group BEspoir vs CSK 3pmIPRC-South vs IPRC-Kigali 5pm

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) Basketball Club will be out to make amends when they take on Patriots in the second game of the ongoing Heroes’ Day tournament at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

The newly created side made their mark in the national league this season after signing some of the best talents around, including former Patriots captain Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana, who won last season’s Most Valuable player (MVP) award.

Coach Jean Bahufite’s team has played five games in the league, losing one of them against defending champions Patriots 71-57.

The win was Patriots’ second over REG in a space of three weeks after beating them with a narrow 76-75 victory in the final of the pre-season tournament staged in November.

Boosted by new signing Kami Kabange, from Uganda champions City Oilers, REG captain Kubwimana believes the game comes at the right time – when they have to prove their doubters wrong.

"This is a big game for us, especially considering the fact that we have lost to Patriots in the two games we have played against them, so this is the right time for some revenge,” said Kubwimana.

Asked about the impact centre player Kabange, who will possibly make his debut in REG jersey in today’s game, Kubwimana noted, "he is a great player, he possesses valuable experience and has won many titles with different clubs in the region, he’s a great addition.”

UGB will play against APR in Group A at 3pm while, in Group B, Espoir will lock horns with Cercle Sportof de Kigali (CSK) at the latter’s court in Rugunga before IPRC-Kigali face off against IPRC-South, at Amahoro indoor stadium, 5pm.

Meanwhile, only three teams will compete in the women’s tournament, which starts today with defending champions Ubumwe facing APR at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, at 1pm. Hoops Rwanda are the other team.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw