Today: Men

IPRC-South       Vs            Espoir                    11am

REG                        Vs            Rusizi                     2pm

UGB                       Vs            IPRC-Kigali          4pm

APR                        Vs            Patriots                8pm

Women

APR                        Vs            Ubumwe             6pm

APR are optimistic about their chances of upsetting StarTimes National Basketball League Patriots when the two teams meet on Friday tonight at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

The record seven-time champions APR are in a tight race for this season’s league title against leading contenders Patriots and defending champions, Rwanda Energy Group – REG.

APR have not won the championship since 2010, and head coach Aime Karim Nkusi, who replaced long-serving Kenyan Cliff Owuor, last November, admits, the army side are not yet to ‘ready’ to win it.

"We are not yet at the level we want to be, but we are also better than we have been in the last five years,” Nkusi told Times Sport on Thursday.

Former Rwanda international added that, "On Friday, we are playing against one of the league title contenders and yes we know it will be a tough game but my payers are fit and fired up for victory, which would boost our confidence for the rest of the season.”

Elsewhere, reigning champions, REG will be hoping to maintain top spot against struggling Rusizi basketball club at the same venue, starting at 2pm.

IPRC-South host former champions Espoir in Huye while United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) will take on Albert Buhake’s IPRC-Kigali, at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, at 4pm.

Cyril Kalima’s REG lead the table standings with 17 points from nine games, one point ahead of Patriots, who have also played one game less. APR are third with 15 points while winless Rusizi are bottom with 9 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw