The day for the Rwanda Basketball League playoffs has finally come!
Four teams will be tussling it out in the best-of-five the semifinals before the winners from each of the two matchups advance to the finals which will be played in a best of seven series.
ALSO READ: Basketball league playoffs due on August 23
The teams have made significant trades to boost their rosters and a host of key players are up for the battle of the championship.
While BK Arena is ready to welcome basketball back, Times Sport takes a look at the players in line to put on a show during the highly-anticipated playoffs.
Michael Dixon – Patriots
Livewire Georgian-American point guard Michael Dixon who will play for local powerhouse Patriots in the playoffs is expected to cause damage to the opponents.
He is a great scorer and dictates the game well. If he is fit in time for the playoffs, he will undoubtedly orchestrate the Patriots&039; quest for their first championship in three years.
He showed how good his game can be when he scored a game high 20 points to inspire Patriots to a 87-74 win over APR in the regular season in Early August.
ALSO READ: Basketball: A look at the teams competing in playoffs
A naturalized citizen of Georgia since 2016, Dixon represents the Georgian national team, for which he featured at the EuroBasket 2017 among other competitions.
Fula Nganga -APR
Nganga, 29, a Congolese point guard who features for APR, may come in handy for the army side during the playoffs.
ALSO READ: Basketball: Fula Nganga drops 19 as APR outclass UGB
He is among the top five scorers in the league this season with 341 points. Such scoring may be a good asset for his team as they push their way to breaking their multiple year trophy drought.
He is an experienced player who previously featured for various clubs in his native DR Congo, including ASB Soyo de Matadi, Ravens and Mazembe.
During the 2022 BAL regular season where he played for DR Congo&039;s Espoir Furkash, Nganga averaged a team-high 18.4 points per game on 40.2 percent shooting from the field, along with 5.6 rebounds.
Olivier Turatsinze- Espoir
Espoir did not recruit lots of international players like its competitors did. Thus, they will somehow rely on their youngsters like 22-year-old star Turatsinze.
The guard has netted 471 points in the regular season, a score that ranks him and the highest scorers. If he can replicate such a feat in the playoffs, he can give his team a fighting chance.
Adonis Filer-REG
REG's experienced point guard Adonis Filer is again one to watch during this year's playoffs. He’s been a household basketball star who hardly disappoints at such big occasions.
ALSO READ: Basketball: REG coach anticipates ‘ very difficult competition’ in playoffs
His good scoring, hard work and movements are expected to be a weapon for REG and a nightmare for opponents including semifinal underdogs Espoir.
A fortnight ago, Filer scored a three-point buzzer beater that saved the game for REG and shocked rivals Patriots. He rose to the occasion to ensure a top of the table finish for the defending champions who were two points behind Patriots with just two seconds to play.
If the American remains at his top game and his teammates also hit the form, they may give REG a chance to win what would be their third championship in a row.