Veteran point guard Aristide Mugabe has vowed to inspire his team to the 2019 BK All-Star Game triumph come Friday at Kigali Arena.

Team Aristide will be against Team Guibert [Nijimbere] in the highly anticipated exhibition game that pits two select teams comprising the most outstanding players of the recently concluded 2018/2019 local basketball season.

The American NBA-style All-Star Game, will be preceded by contests in slam dunk and three-point shooting.

Mugabe will be leading his team after a successful season in which he powered his club Patriots to a second successive league title last month before dominating Group D to reach the second and final round of the 2020 Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers a fortnight ago.

"We are training very hard ahead of the game, and I believe we will be ready in time. It is my job as the captain to lead my team to success, and the preps looks promising so far.”

He added, "Much as it is an exhibition game, I don’t think any side will take it for granted. We want to give the fans a good basketball show, and win the bragging rights, so it is definitely going to be a very competitive game.”

After the game, which will be marking the official end of the 2018-19 campaign, the local basketball governing body will recognise the season’s best performers including the Most Valuable Player (MVP), the young player of the year and the best referee among other awards.

Patriots guard Sedar Sagamba – who is part of Team Guibert – scooped last year’s MVP award for the 2017/2018 season.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com