RSSB Tigers stun APR as Patriots beat REG in RBL playoff openers (Photos)

The 2026 Rwanda Basketball League playoffs got underway in style on Wednesday night, with RSSB Tigers BBC and Patriots BBC taking early control of their best-of-seven semifinal series after impressive victories over APR BBC and REG BBC, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the league’s top four teams—regular-season champions APR BBC, runners-up Patriots BBC, third-placed REG BBC, and fourth-seeded RSSB Tigers BBC—advanced to the playoffs to battle for the national championship.

The opening night at BK Arena featured two highly anticipated semifinal clashes, beginning with Patriots BBC against REG BBC before attention shifted to a blockbuster showdown between defending champions APR BBC and BAL winners RSSB Tigers.

Patriots made a confident start to their postseason campaign by defeating REG BBC 84-75, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

The former champions controlled the contest from the opening quarter and carried a commanding 49-32 advantage into halftime, leaving REG with an uphill task after the break.

American guard Damaria Franklin led the Patriots with a game-high 26 points, while adding four rebounds and one assist.

He received valuable support from Jeffery Tyrone Stubbs and Irakoze Hervé Hodal, whose contributions helped Patriots maintain control throughout the contest.

REG BBC fought hard in the second half but could not overturn the deficit despite strong performances from Armel Sangwe, Garmine Kande Kieli, and Frank Kamndoh Betoudji, who spearheaded the team’s offensive efforts.

The night’s headline act came in the second semifinal, where RSSB Tigers stunned top seeds APR BBC 97-82 to seize home-court advantage in the series.

The result came as a surprise to many, particularly APR supporters who had hoped the arrival of Leonard Craig Randall II would provide the spark needed to begin their title defence on a winning note.

Randall, one of the standout performers during the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) campaign, recently joined APR after helping RSSB Tigers make history by becoming the first Rwandan club to win the continental title.

However, it was another Tigers star who stole the spotlight.

Tyler Tarik Bey delivered a dominant all-around display, finishing with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists to inspire RSSB Tigers to a convincing victory.

Randall impressed on his APR debut with 25 points, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the defending champions from falling behind in the series.

The playoffs also highlight the diverse coaching talent in Rwanda’s top flight.

Patriots BBC remain the only semifinalist led by a Rwandan head coach, Sunny Niyomugabo, while APR BBC are coached by American James Maye Jr. and RSSB Tigers BBC by Ugandan Henry Mwinuka.

The semifinal series are played in a best-of-seven format, meaning a team must win four games to secure a place in the championship finals.

Patriots BBC and RSSB Tigers now hold a 1-0 advantage and need three more victories to reach the title series, while REG BBC and APR BBC must respond quickly to avoid falling further behind in their respective matchups.

Photos

• Patrios BBC vs REG BBC