The annual Gisembe memorial basketball tournament, organised by Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) in partnership with local basketball league powerhouse Espoir, has been scheduled for May and June.

The tournament is held in memory of former Espoir player and coach Emmanuel Ntarugera Gisembe, who was killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

However, since 2015, FERWABA in conjunction with Espoir Basketball Club, decided to stage two separate Gisembe memorial tournaments; a local and regional event.

The local tournament is slated to get underway on May 26 and will run until June 4, while the regional event that is open to all East African member states is slated for June 9 until June 11.

The two competitions will attract teams in both men and women categories.

Last year nine teams in the men’s category and two in the women’s category competed in the local tournament with Espoir claiming the title in the men’s category while APR won the women title.

The regional event attracted 16 teams from Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi. However, Espoir did not feature in this edition on grounds that one of their players was suspended from taking part in the competition by local basketball federation (FERWABA).

Patriots won the title after defeating DR Congo’s Boundess Basketball club in a tightly contested final 66-64 at Amahoro indoor stadium, while in the women’s category; Berco Stars from Burundi retained the title after defeating APR 58-55.

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