Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Beijing, China, after finishing second in Group A.
The Tigers secured their place in the last four after Lithuania’s Rytas Vilnius defeated hosts Shanghai Sharks 107-66 on Thursday, September 24. The result left Rytas top of Group A with two wins, while RSSB Tigers finished second after their earlier 117-115 overtime victory over Shanghai.
The result means Rytas Vilnius and RSSB Tigers will represent Group A in the semi-finals, while Shanghai Sharks were eliminated. The two teams had already been confirmed as the top two sides in the group after their respective results.
The tournament features six teams divided into two groups of three, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-final pairings are first place in Group A against second place in Group B, and first place in Group B against second place in Group A.
RSSB Tigers, the reigning Basketball Africa League (BAL) champions, began their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 107-89 defeat to Rytas Vilnius before recovering with a dramatic 117-115 overtime win over Shanghai Sharks.
In that game, the Rwandan side came back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Chinese champions, with Brandon Goodwin scoring 32 points and Osborn Shema adding 20.
Semi-final opponent to be determined
RSSB Tigers will face the winner of Group B in the semi-finals.
The Group B race involves Boca Juniors of Argentina, representing the Americas, and NBA G League United of the United States, while hosts Beijing Royal Fighters are also competing in the group. FIBA’s tournament format sends the top two teams from each group into the semi-finals.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, September 26, with the championship game and third-place game set for Sunday, September 27.
The 2026 tournament is being held in Beijing from September 22 to 27, with six clubs representing different basketball competitions around the world.
