The 2026 Cheetah Energy Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday, August 5, with four of the country’s top teams battling for the championship title.
Defending champions APR BBC, Patriots BBC, REG BBC and RSSB Tigers BBC will compete in the semi-finals as they seek to lift the league trophy in what promises to be a highly competitive playoff campaign.
The semi-finals will see Patriots BBC face REG BBC at 6:30 pm, while APR BBC take on RSSB Tigers BBC at 9:00 pm, with both matches scheduled at BK Arena.
The best-of-five semi-final series will require teams to win three games to advance to the final.
Ahead of the playoffs, several teams have strengthened their squads with experienced local and international players. Here are 10 players expected to have a major influence on the title race.
Leonard Craig Randall II – APR BBC
American guard Leonard Craig Randall II is among the biggest names entering the playoffs after playing a key role in RSSB Tigers BBC’s historic Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 triumph. The Tigers became the first Rwandan team to win the continental title.
Randall was one of the standout performers in BAL 2026, averaging 36.1 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game, performances that earned him the tournament MVP award.
He also set a BAL record after scoring 54 points in one game and making 11 three-pointers in another.
Although he featured for RSSB Tigers during BAL, Randall had initially joined APR BBC and later played five league games for the club, scoring 97 points, collecting 14 rebounds and providing 13 assists.
Teafale Marquise Lenard Jr – APR BBC
American forward Teafale Marquise Lenard Jr is another player expected to make a difference for APR BBC.
He was part of the RSSB Tigers team that won BAL 2026, where he averaged 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
During his eight league appearances for APR BBC, Lenard recorded 101 points, 58 rebounds, 15 blocks and 21 assists.
Noel Obadiah Arthur “Mutabazi” – Patriots BBC
American forward Noel Obadiah Arthur, known as Mutabazi, returns to Rwandan basketball with Patriots BBC.
The 27-year-old previously played for APR BBC in two BAL campaigns and gained recognition for scoring important points in crucial matches.
Patriots will hope his experience can help them challenge for their first league title since 2020.
Chingka Kennedy Garba – Patriots BBC
Nigerian center Chingka Kennedy Garba has been one of Patriots BBC’s defensive pillars.
He finished the regular season as the league leader in rebounds with 186 and blocks with 33.
At 24, Garba enters the playoffs as one of the players expected to influence games through his defensive presence.
Damaria Franklin – Patriots BBC
American guard Damaria Franklin was among the leading performers in the regular season.
He scored 357 points in 15 games, including a record 66-point performance against EAUR BBC.
Franklin also contributed 89 rebounds, 35 assists, eight blocks and 33 steals, making him one of Patriots’ main attacking threats.
William Kiah Perry – REG BBC
American point guard William Kiah Perry brings valuable experience to REG BBC.
The 31-year-old previously played in Rwanda for Kigali Titans and Patriots BBC and has also featured in the BAL four times, most recently with Morocco’s FUS Rabat.
His playmaking ability and experience will be important as REG aim for the title.
Nisre Mimi Zouzoua – RSSB Tigers BBC
Ivorian shooting guard Nisre Mimi Zouzoua has quickly become an important player for RSSB Tigers after joining the team in June.
In eight league games, he scored 168 points, collected 35 rebounds and provided 38 assists.
He averaged 21 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, making him a major offensive option.
Mouhamadou Diagne – APR BBC
Senegalese forward Mouhamadou Diagne joined APR BBC after playing for Morocco’s FUS Rabat in BAL 2026.
Despite featuring in only one league game for APR, he impressed by scoring 12 points, collecting eight rebounds and recording four blocks.
His defensive ability, recognized through his selection to the All-BAL Defensive First Team, makes him a key player to watch.
Abdoulaye Harouna Amadou – REG BBC
Nigerian guard Abdoulaye Harouna Amadou is one of REG BBC’s major additions for the playoffs.
He has played for several African clubs, including FUS Rabat, ASC Ville de Dakar, Nairobi City Thunder, ABC Fighters and AS Douanes.
His experience in African competitions, including participation in every BAL season since 2021, makes him a valuable asset for REG.
Antino Alvalezes Jackson – RSSB Tigers BBC
Rwandan-American guard Antino Alvalezes Jackson played a key role in RSSB Tigers’ BAL 2026 title victory as team captain.
During the regular season, he scored 183 points in 12 games, provided 96 assists, collected 52 rebounds and recorded 18 steals.
He was also among the league’s top three-point shooters, making 32 shots from beyond the arc.
With several high-profile players involved, the 2026 RBL playoffs are expected to produce a closely contested battle for the championship trophy.
