TodayEspoir Vs Patriots 6pmREG Vs APR 8pm

RWANDA Energy Group (REG) and APR face-off on Friday night in a highly-anticipated StarTimes National Basketball League game at Amahoro Indoor Stadium in Remera, as both teams seek to keep pressure on leaders Patriots.

Patriots take on Espoir in the first game of the night, at 6pm, at the same venue.

Going into today’s game which starts at 8pm, reigning champions, REG, are in second place while the 2010 champions APR are third – both sides share a 6:2 win ratio this season, and 14 points apiece.

On the other hand, Patriots have only lost one league game, while REG, who are optimistic to win a treble this season, have been beaten twice and will be hoping to avoid a third defeat, which would further dent their title hopes.

"We will do everything possible to avoid another defeat. We are at a crucial point in the league title race where a third defeat would narrow our chances, so we have to be careful against an in-form APR team, who themselves are challenging for the title,” REG coach Cyrille Kalima said on Thursday.

REG will be looking to their top guns, led by Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana, Olivier Shyaka, Kami Kabange, Walter Nkurunziza and Bienvenu Ngandu to fire them to victory.

Aime Karim Nkusi’s APR will be seeking to pull off what would be a big team win through the likes of Brian Mbanze, Eric Munyaneza, Jean de Dieu Ntagunduka and Emmanuel Iyakaremye.

Meanwhile, Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots will go to into their game against Maxime Mwiseneza’s Espoir, knowing that if they lose and REG beat APR, they will lose top spot.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw