Today

Playoffs finals, Game 1

REG    Vs    Patriots 8pm

Third place, Game 1

APR    Vs    IPRC- Kigali 6pm

It will be a battle of titans as holders Patriots and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) lock horns tonight in Game 1 of the basketball playoffs finals at Amahoro Stadium.

Guaranteed to be a heated encounter, the clash between the two rivals will be preceded by another game pitting APR and IPRC-Kigali who will be battling for the third place.

While Patriots seek to become the first side to win the Play-off Games title back-to-back since 2015, REG will also be eyeing to win the tournament for their first time since the club’s formation almost three years ago.

Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots reached the final after edging out IPRC-Kigali in semi-finals whilst Patrick Ngwijuruvugo’s red and black outfit brushed off APR.

"Every game matters in these series, but a good start matters the most. We are going into Game 1 aiming for a positive beginning. We beat REG in last year’s finals, we can do it again. We (players) just need to have a winning mentality and mean serious business like we always did throughout the 2017-18 season,” Patriots skipper Aristide Mugabe told Times Sport on Thursday.

When asked if his side stands a chance to sweep REG with three straight victories, he said, "It’s a possibility and for sure we will attempt that, but, that’s not exactly our main focus. All we need is to retain the title regardless of the score-line.”

Last year, after failed attempts in 2015 and 2016, Patriots ended a two-year jinx to lift their first playoffs title after bouncing back from Game 1 loss to win the next three Games.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw