The stage is set for an intense playoff battle when the 2023 BetPawa playoffs tip off on August 23, equipped with new locker room bonuses to keep up the stakes of one of the league’s most exciting regular seasons.
Prior to the postseason games, the Rwanda Basketball League is strengthened with a new partner, seizing the name rights and investing directly in the athletes and other beneficiaries of the game.
Two months ago, The Rwanda Basketball Federation announced a three-year postseason sponsorship deal with BetPawa as the Rwanda Basketball Leagues’ headline sponsor, covering the 3*3 games as well.
According to Ntoudi Mouyelo, the managing director of Mchezo, a company that owns betPawa, he is eager to reiterate their commitment to investing in sports in Rwanda and ensuring that the athletes are giving their all on the court.
But, first and foremost, why Basketball?
“Basketball may not be far off as the sport with the largest number of fans in Rwanda right now. But Basketball is one of Rwanda’s fastest-growing sports. And we believe the federation is one of, if not the, most effective organized sports federation in Rwanda.” Declared Mr Ntoudi Mouyelo
He continued; “Our plan is to recognize a good competition in Rwanda, our plan is to give more to those who are making the story. So, we decided it in the agreement with the Federation to put in place a few initiatives that we believe will take the league to the next level”
“The first initiative is to provide more to the players; for instance, if a team wins a game, they will receive a special bonus, and the key for us is to ensure that the players receive bonuses while they are still sweating. it is known as the locker room bonus.” Said the managing director
The prevailing team will get locker room incentives, with each player receiving 50,000 Rwandan Francs via mobile money immediately upon the game’s completion.
Everyone will gain from this collaboration , not just the athletes. Those who attend the games will have a chance to win a significant prize in the end. The great incentive for supporters will be an opportunity to watch whatever game they want, anytime they want, anywhere they want, but on the condition that they first come and support their local club.
The Rwanda Basketball Federation’s Vice President, Richard Nyirishema, is commended for announcing that this season’s playoffs would begin with a fresh look, logo, and name as an outcome of the federation’s successful engagement with their new partner BetPawa.
“We are launching off this year’s postseason with an all-new logo and brand as a result of our effective partnership with BetPawa.”
“This year’s regular season was noteworthy owing to the manner in the teams in all categories have upped the level, we doubt that the endurance will be the same in these playoffs, in addition to the novelties provided by the partner.”
On the court, four top teams in each category –Men and Women –will face off to determine the champion of 2023.
The action begins in the semifinals, where the top four teams from both the men’s and women’s categories compete in best of five series, with the team that wins three games first advancing to the finals, which will be contested in best-of-seven series.
The Rwanda Energy Group teams will be out to defend their Rwanda Basketball League crowns as the playoffs get underway. In the best-of-5 Series, the reigning champions will take on Espoir BBC and IPRC Huye in men’s and women’s categories respectively.
Individual awards for the outstanding regular season performers will be acknowledged by the Federation, while BetPawa will honour the best postseason players, as stated by Mr Nyirishema.
The league champion is determined via the playoffs. The champion in the men’s category will be the flag-bearer in 2024 BAL, while the champion in the women’s category represents Rwanda in the Zone V competition.
Here are the matchups in the playoffs – Quarterfinals
Women
REG Women BBC vs RP-IPRC Huye
APR WBBC vs The Hoops Rwanda
Men
Patriots vs APR BBC
REG BBC vs Espoir BBC
The first games are set for Wednesday, August 23, with the men’s games taking place at BK Arena and the women’s at LDK Gymnasium.
