APR BBC made a statement in the opening game of the Cheetah Energy Rwanda Basketball League Playoffs final, defeating Patriots BBC 117-91 at BK Arena on Tuesday night.
The defending champions took control from the opening minutes, winning the first quarter 35-21 before adding a 29-17 advantage in the second quarter to take a commanding 64-38 lead into halftime.
Patriots struggled to close the gap after the break as APR continued to dictate the tempo. The champions won the third quarter 33-23 and finished strongly with a 30-20 advantage in the final quarter to seal a 26-point victory.
The result gives APR a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series, with the first team to reach four victories lifting the 2026 league title.
American guard Leonard Craig Randall II was the star of the night, producing a game-high 40 points alongside six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Randall, who was named the 2026 Basketball Africa League MVP after helping RSSB Tigers win the continental championship, also became the highest scorer in a single playoff game this season.
APR’s long-range shooting proved particularly damaging to Patriots. They made 15 three-pointers, compared with six by their opponents, while their early dominance saw them build a lead of as many as 40 points.
The emphatic result has immediately put Patriots under pressure and raised the prospect of an early sweep, with APR now needing only three more victories to win the series 4-0.
Patriots head coach Niyomugabo Munyandamutsa Sunny will now have to find answers to APR coach James Maye Jr’s approach before Game 2.
The second game is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, at BK Arena, starting at 9:30 p.m.
The women’s playoff clash between REG W BBC and The Hoops Rwanda will precede the men’s final at 7 p.m.
Earlier, REG BBC and RSSB Tigers BBC will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Game 1 of their best-of-five series for third place.
