Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and APR women’s basketball clubs are in Dakar, Senegal, representing Rwanda at the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA), which tips off on Friday, December 6.
REG women secured the ticket to the continental tournament after emerging as the first runners-up at the Zone V tournament that took place in Zanzibar in November while APR qualified through a wild card, having fallen short of qualification after finishing fourth place at the same qualifying tournament.
Weekend Sport highlights things you need to know about the two Rwandan flag bearers at the tournament.
How they qualified
REG had a good run in the 11-team WBLA FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers held in Zanzibar, claiming the silver medal after losing 93-69 to eventual winners Al Ahly SC of Egypt in the final.
They were drawn in Group C alongside Equity Bank Hawks of Kenya, Gladiators of Burundi and Fox Divas of Tanzania.
After advancing beyond the group stages, REG met compatriots APR at the knockout stage and beat them 82-77 in an all-Rwandan confrontation across the border. Speedy guard Victoria Reynolds scored 26 points in the match.
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One of the team's other treasured results of the tournament was their 86-73 victory over former regional champions and Kenyan champions Equity Bank Hawks.
In the game, the bankers were hurt most by the Kenyan international duo of Reynolds and Mercy Wanyama.
Meanwhile, APR had failed to qualify for the WBLA until FIBA Africa awarded them a wild card for the tournament.
Key players
Point guard Destiney Philoxy remains the engine that drives the REG machine.
ALSO READ: REG qualifies for 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa
She will get some much-needed help from Khayla Pointer, who was drafted in 2021 by two-time WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces.
Other key players expected to lead the team to their first podium finish are Burundian centre Ines Nezerwa and Senegalese power forward Aminata Ly.
For APR, it is Italee Lucas, a 1.73m guard. Lucas graduated University of North Carolina in 2011. She was drafted by Tulsa Shock (WNBA) in 2011 in the 2nd round (21 overall).