Game 4: Wednesday, September 18
Patriots vs. APR | 8 PM (APR lead series 2-1)
Venue: BK Arena
The betPawa finals have reached a crucial stage where the Patriots return to action against APR in Game 4 on Wednesday, September 18, with their championship hopes on the line.
Trailing 1-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Patriots must stage a comeback if they are to keep their title aspirations alive.
In three finals games played so far, APR secured two wins against one for Patriots. Game 4 of the finals taking place at BK Arena, promises to be a fierce contest worth watching.
A win for APR would put them in pole position to retain the trophy while a similar result for Henry Mwinuka’s side would level the series at 2-2 and boost their title hopes.
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The first three games were closely contested. The Patriots won Game 1 with 83-71, but APR responded strongly, winning Games 2 and 3 by 101-93 and 67-53, respectively.
History of the championship
Patriots have won the Rwanda Basketball League on four occasions, with the first coming in 2016 when they defeated IPRC-South 52-45 in the finals. They returned in 2018 to win their second title, overcoming REG 3-1 in a best-of-five series. In 2019 and 2020, the Patriots captured back-to-back championships, securing their place as one of Rwanda’s basketball powerhouses.
APR, on the other hand, boast a record 14 titles.
They made history in 2008 as the first team to finish the regular season unbeaten. They claimed their 13th title in 2009, adding to their storied legacy.
It took them 14 years to break the jinx when they won their 14th championship in 2023. They are now back to defend the title and they are on the right track although the battle is not finished yet.
What’s at stake?
The winner of the Rwanda Basketball League title will earn the right to represent the country in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), an NBA-sponsored competition that attracts top clubs from across the continent.
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This opportunity is a significant reward, offering the chance to compete at a higher level and gain international recognition.
Beyond the BAL qualification, both teams will be battling for pride and the chance to assert their dominance on the local basketball scene.