KAMPALA (FIBA Africa Champions Cup 2017) - Defending champions City Oilers and Patriots of Rwanda will face off in a highly anticipated encounter on Tuesday in a battle for top spot in Group A at the FIBA Africa Zone 5 Club Championship at the Lugogo Indoor Arena. 

Both sides are unbeaten so far at the regional tournament and will be looking to maintain their winning run when they square up. 

"We are very ready mentally and physically. We are playing a bigger team that matches up so we have to be mentally ahead of them so when it comes to clutch time situation, you can endure," - Adarius Pegues said.

For the Patriots, defeating City Oilers will emphasize their title ambitions at the tournament and the availability of shooting guard Hamza Ruhezamihigo will come in handy for the Rwandan champions. 

Ruhezamihigo told FIBA.basketball that, "I am glad to be cleared before the knockout round. The team has done a great job winning the first two games. I am just going to bring what I can to help the team win more games and reach our goal to win the Cup."

He admitted that this will be the toughest test for the Patriots but insisted that it does not change their game plan. 

"Yes, we are aware but it will only make a win even sweeter. It does not change our game plan. We are going to stick with what we do and adjust as the game goes on."

Patriots center Kami Kabange will be facing his former employers for the first time since leaving at the beginning of this year after helping them win four straight domestic league trophies from 2013-2016. 

Kabange, who won three MVP accolades with City Oilers in the domestic league, admitted that it will be an emotional return for him.

"Yes, it will be emotional because of so many memories with City Oilers but I will approach the game like a professional player."

At the center of this encounter will be Pegues and Kabange in the battle for who dominates the paint and the statistics board, a matchup many a fan has been dreaming about. 

Pegues said, "We are very ready mentally and physically. We are playing a bigger team that matches up so we have to be mentally ahead of them so when it comes to clutch time situation, you can endure."

This will be the first meeting between the two sides that are not a decade old in existence combined. 

Meanwhile, Tanzanian outfit Savio will be up against Hawassa City from Ethiopia with both sides looking for their first win in Group A. 

FIBA