The 2023 basketball league season playoff games will begin Wednesday, August 23, and will run through September 20, the local Basketball governing body (Ferwaba) has announced.

The playoffs in the Rwandan league feature teams that finish in the top four during the regular season where they play semi-finals and finals in a series format to establish the champion.

ALSO READ: Basketball: REG coach anticipates ‘ very difficult competition’ in playoffs

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) finished at the top of the men’s regular season rankings followed by the Patriots, APR and Espoir in second, third and fourth places respectively.

In women’s category, APR, The Hoops, REG and IPRC Huye reached the playoffs phase after finishing the regular season in the top four.

The men’s playoffs will be held at BK Arena in a best of five series for the semi-finals and best of seven series for the finals while women’s semifinals playoffs will take place at Lycee de Kigali Gymnasium and the finals at BK Arena.

ALSO READ: Rigged game! Fans react after Filer’s buzzer beater shocks Patriots

The champions in men’s category will represent Rwanda at the 2024 Basketball African League (BAL), while the winners in the women’s fray will represent the country in the 2024 FIBA Africa Zone V Club Championships.

REG are back to back defending champions in both men and women’s categories, having won the trophy in 2021 and 2022.

ALSO READ: Basketball: Dixon scores 20 points as Patriots edge APR

ALSO READ: Hoops: APR beat REG to go top of basketball league

Some teams like APR and the Patriots have beefed up their rosters ahead of the playoffs, making major trades of key players who have established their elite status on the continental basketball scene.

The Patriots, for instance, brought in Ater Majok, Michael Dixon, Jean Victor Mukama, while APR introduced American Guard De Marcus Holland and Prince Ibeh.