Hosts Patriots want to give fans Christmas gift

KIGALI (Rwanda) - When Rwandan champions Patriots lineup to play their most important game since inception in 2014, they will play for bragging rights, national pride but most importantly a place in the inaugural Basketball Africa League season next year. 

Against the City Oilers of Uganda in the second Semi-Final of the BAL Division East Qualifiers on Saturday at the breathtaking Kigali Arena, they come up against their biggest arch-rival in the East African region but also a team that can currently match their quality in depth and ambitions. 

It is very clear that qualifying for BAL is their objective but whether they can achieve this and please their home crowd will depend on how they will take up yet another challenge from a top team after a last Group Phase game that saw them turn around an 18-point difference to eventually win in overtime against Madagascar's GNBC. 

“THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT GAME FOR US AS A CLUB. WE HAVE TO WIN AND WE WANT TO GIVE OUR FANS A CHRISTMAS GIFT. OUR BIG PLAYERS HAVE TO DO THE JOB AND IF THEY DO NOT, WE SHALL HAVE A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BATTLE WILL BE IN THE PAINT. IF WE ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME THAT PRESSURE THEN WE SHALL HAVE A GOOD RESULT. ”- Odhiambo

Patriots head coach Carey Odhiambo believes that qualification to BAL will change the face of Rwandan basketball for good. From being a team that was training on an outdoor court to playing in a 10,000 seater world class facility, the Patriots journey in the last five years has been one of sheer commitment to professionalism and disregard of mediocrity. 

Whether his players can match the ambitions of the management team on the court against the Oilers will define the club's future and better yet present a chance to reward those that dream big for the nation of Rwanda that has invested immensely in sports infrastructure. 

"We have to play in such a way that we keep the fans with us so that they are able to push us to the next level. We cannot allow them to keep quiet. We need them as the 13th person to push us to our goal. We want to engage them," Odhiambo explained. 

"There is some pressure and anxiety. Before you go into a tough game, there has to be pressure and it is normal but it is very important for us to make it because the Final Four will be here and that gives us the motivation to work hard so as to reach the BAL Final 12 and this game gives us motivation."

In the paint, Patriots center Adarius Pegues comes up against his former side - a team he played for at the now defunct FIBA Africa Champions Cup 2017 in Tunisia and will be looking to help his side attain their objective. 

Pegues, who stands at 2.82m (6ft10in) will alongside George Blakeney Jr who is an inch shorter, are expected to alongside Elie Kaje provide good cover in the paint where Odhiambo believes the game's result will be defined. 

He said, "This is a very important game for us as a club. We have to win and we want to give our fans a Christmas gift. Our big players have to do the job and if they do not, we shall have a big problem because the battle will be in the paint. If we are able to overcome that pressure then we shall have a good result."

"The game against GNBC was a wake up call for us. It will boil down to preparation mentally and physically. We are positive about that."

Shooting guard Kenneth Gasana, who is averaging 16.3 points, five assists and 4.3 rebounds will lead the team's offense and defense with the hope of making it to the next level. 

According to Odhiambo, winning tonight will be the least reward to a system that has given the Patriots everything that they need to command the big stage. 

Meanwhile, Madagascar champions GNBC will be looking to write history and book a place to the Basketball Africa League Final 12 when they take on Ferroviario de Maputo from Mozambique in the first Semi-Final of the Division East Qualifiers. 

Lova Raharidera's side has shown that they have the talent, skills and character to compete at the highest level and this game is one that will call for their best form if they are to defeat a wounded Ferroviario de Maputo who are desperate to return to winning ways.

"Our target is to progress to the next stage and we shall do everything we can to get there. Obviously, Ferroviario de Maputo is a strong team with big players but we shall rely on good defense to try and stop them," Raharidera told FIBA.basketball. 

For Ferroviario de Maputo, losing two straight games is something that they are looking to avoid. Head coach Milagre Macome admitted that the losing feeling is not one they want to experience again and so they will try to control their destiny early enough in the game. 

Masa is averaging 20 points, 10.3 rebounds 

The top three teams from this competition will qualify for the BAL Final 12 set to start in March 2020 across the African continent. 

FIBA