ESPOIR basketball club will be Rwanda’s flag-bearer in the Zone V basketball championships which begins today in Kampala, Uganda.Espoir will be the only national club vying for regional success after champions Kigali Basketball Club (KBC) pulled out of the event due to financial constraints.According to KBC technical director, Calixte Rutajogerwa, the club will not honour the tournament because they could not foot the needed bill to help them compete in the five-day event.Meanwhile, Uganda Basketball Federation (FUBA) has confirmed everything is in place for the week-long regional club basketball competition at two different venues; Lugogo Indoor Stadium (MTN Arena) and Makerere Main ground Basketball Court.Seventeen teams from seven countries have confirmed participation in the event.Mark Power and Kyambogo Warriors will represent Uganda on the men's side while UCU Lady Canons and KCCA Leopards on the women's side.Other teams that confirmed participation include KCB, Cooperative Bank, Eagles Wings and Kenya Port Authority (KPA) from Kenya; ABC, Jeshi Stars, Lioness from Tanzania; Uranani, New Stars and Berco Stars from Burundi.South Sudan and Ethiopia are yet to confirm their representatives.