The 2025 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) tips off on January 24 where holders APR BBC will begin their championship defense by hosting newcomers Flame Basketball Club. The game, which will take place at Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium, is one of four fixtures scheduled on the opening day of the new season, according to the 2025 season fixture calendar. James Maye Jr., an American coach at the helm of APR, returns hoping to coach the club on a full season after replacing Mazen Trakh who left the club before the end of the 2024 regular season. His first test will be up against Flame's head coach, Gad Tuyishimire, who played a key role in securing the club's promotion to the topflight league. Flame Basketball Club earned their place in RBL for the 2025 following the disqualification of Division 2 runners-up Keplerians who were ineligible due to their affiliation with Kepler BBC. ALSO READ: Basketball: How top teams are prepared for the 2025 season APR's roster has been strengthened with new additions, including point guard Antino Jackson and Justin Uwitonze who joined crossed over from rivals Rwanda Energy Group (REG) as well as Shaffy Habineza who joined from United Generation (UGB). On the other hand, Flame are yet to announce any major signings and sources indicate that they will begin training on Wednesday, January 8. In other games, local powerhouse Patriots Basketball Club will face 2024 second division champions Azomco on the same day, while REG will open their league campaign against Orion. Tigers will take on Espoir at Kepler University's outdoor court. ALSO READ: Hoops: 2025 league season set for January 24 The league will feature 10 teams namely champions APR and runners-up Patriots. Others include REG, Kepler, Espoir, United Generation Basketball (UGB), Orion, Tigers, Azomco and Flame. The regular season will run for seven months and will conclude on August 1. A total of 90 games will be played throughout the regular season. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, where they will vie for a spot in the semi-finals in a best-of-five series. The two finalists will face off in a best-of-seven series to determine the champions who will represent Rwanda at the 2026 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
