Burundi’s renowned basketball clubs will attempt to make an improved showing at this year’s Liberation day tournament which gets under today until Sunday at Amahoro stadium indoor courts. 

Dynamo and New star basketball clubs arrived in Kigali on Wednesday and will battle against Rwanda’s heavy weights APR (defending champions), CSK A, National University of Rwanda (NUR) and Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) for the top prize in the three-day tournament.

However, league defending champions Marine have not been drafted into the tournament after missing the first round which was staged last weekend. 

"It’s unfortunate that they (Marine) will not participate because they are the best team in the country.

"They play attractive basketball and it is obvious that their presence could have spiced up the tournament,” a close source to the local basketball governing body acknowledged yesterday.

On the road to last year’s title, APR dislodged Dynamo at the semi-final before ousting local rivals Espoir in the final.

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