In a thrilling Friday night showdown, two unbeaten basketball powerhouses in the Rwanda Basketball League, REG BBC and the Patriots, both with perfect 5-0 records, face off in a heated matchup.
KIGALI, March 15, A highly anticipated match between REG BBC and Patriots in Rwanda Basketball League, both undefeated teams will compete fiercely for victory, derby bragging rights, and the top league standings.
The timing of the fixture is ideal as both teams have competed in at least five games, allowing recent additions to settle in and foster team chemistry.
Having convincingly defeated Tigers, Orion, Titans, Kepler, and Espoir in their first five games, Henry Mwinuka’s Patriots are bracing for a tough challenge today against REG BBC. This prompted their scouts to travel to Eastern Europe in search of Serbian Center Nikola Scekic to match REG’s formidable big man, Pitchou Manga, in the paint.
Nikola Scekic, who is expected to make his league debut today, will be paired with Frank Kamndoh, the league’s back-to-back best defender, to minimize REG’s dynamism in the paint.
On the other hand, Charles Mushumba’s REG BBC will rely heavily on their frontcourt trio: Gray Kendal, Olivier Shyaka, and Pitchou Manga. Notably, Pitchou Manga has delivered four consecutive double-double performances in his last four outings.
As both REG and Patriots stand at 5-0, the team that emerges victorious not only secures derby bragging rights but also keep their winning streak running.
Last season, Adonis Filer’s buzzer-beating shot against Patriots secured a dramatic win for REG BBC, elevating them to the league’s summit. His clutch play also influenced playoff seeding, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.
Before the highly anticipated matchup at 8 p.m., the defending champions APR will first meet Titans at 6 p.m. at the same venue, LDK.
APR BBC broke REG and Patriots’ stronghold on the league by winning the 2023 RBL title. REG and Patriots have been dominant forces in the league since 2016.
