Patriots BBC

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Patriots
Kigali Patriots logo.png
Leagues Rwanda Basketball League
Founded2014
HistoryPatriots BBC
(2014–present)
ArenaAmahoro Indoor Stadium / Kigali Arena
Capacity2,500 / 10,000
Location Kigali, Rwanda
Team colorsRed, Black, Gold, White
    
Main sponsor Rwanda Development Bank
PresidentBrian Kirungi
Head coachSunny Niyomugabo
Championships4 Rwandan Leagues

Patriots Basketball Club, also known as Patriots, is a professional basketball club based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2014, it plays its home games at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. The team is a four-time champion of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). [1]

Contents

In the 2021 season, the Patriots played in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The club gained worldwide attention when American star rapper J. Cole signed with the team to play in the BAL.

History

The club Patriots BBC was founded in 2014 by a group of top corporate executives from diverse sectors of the economy. [2] In the Patriots' debut season, they immediately reached the playoff finals, but lost to Espoir 1–3. [3] Two years later, the Patriots won their first national championship.

On 21 September 2019, the Patriots won their fourth league title after defeating REG BBC in Game 7 of the finals, in a sold out Kigali Arena. [4] On 26 October, head coach Henry Mwinuka, who won three league championships with Patriots, parted ways with the club to join REG. [5] On 6 November, assistant coach Carey Odhiambo was promoted to become head coach. [6] In April 2021, ahead of the first-ever BAL season, the team signed American Alan Major as new head coach. [7] In April 2021, five days before the release of his album, The Off-Season , American rapper J. Cole signed with the Patriots. [8]

The Patriots played their first BAL game on 16 May 2021 at home in Kigali, beating Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers 83–60. [9] Eventually, the team finished in an impressive fourth place of the tournament.

After the 2023–24 season, Mwinuka left the team, and was replaced by new head coach Sunny Niyomugabo. [10]

Sponsorships

In 2024, Patriots BBC signed a five-year sponsorship contract with the Rwanda Development Bank (RDB). [11]

Players

Current roster

As of 14 July 2024 [12]

Note: Flags indicate national team, as has been defined under FIBA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIBA nationality.

2024 Patriots BBC roster
No.Pos.Nat.Player
0 SG Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Bruno Nyamwasa
1 F Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Furaha de Dieu
2 SG Flag of the United States.svg  USA Will Perry
5 PG Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Sedar Sagamba
10 C Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Frank Betoudji
12 SG Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Kenny Gasana
13 F/C Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Bienvenu Niyonsaba
15 F/C Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Olivier Kamilindi
23 F Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Steven Hagumintwari
32 SG Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Samuel Ndayizeye
34 SG Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Dieudonné Ndizeye

Retired numbers

Patriots BBC retired numbers
N°PlayerPositionTenureCeremony date
88 Aristide Mugabe SG 2015–20232 March 2024 [13]


Past rosters

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Honours

National Basketball League

BAL

Season by season

League championsPlayoff berth
SeasonTierLeagueRegular seasonPost-seasonCup competitionsHead coach
FinishPlayedWinsLossesWin %
Patriots BBC
2016–171 NBL 1stNot heldHenry Mwinuka
2017–18League not played
2018–191 NBL 1st16142.875Won semifinals (APR) 3–2
Won finals (REG) 4–3		Runners-up (HC)
2019–201 NBL 1st3301.000Won semifinals (IPRC-Kigali) 88–59
Won finals (REG) 76–61		Carey Odhiambo
2020–211 NBL 1st12111.917Won quarterfinals (30 Plus) 106–61
Won semifinals (APR) 2–0
Lost finals (REG) 0–2		Cancelled Dean Murray
2021–221 RBL 1st24222.917Won semifinals (Tigers) 2–0
Lost finals (REG) 2–3		Not organisedOgolla Benson
2022–231 RBL 2nd22193.864Lost semifinals (APR) 0–2Not organisedHenry Mwinuka
2023–241 RBL 1st18171.944Won semifinals (Kepler) 3–0

Lost finals (APR) 2–4

Semifinalist (RC)
2024–251 RBL 4th16106.625Lost quarterfinals (APR) 2–3

Lost third place game (UGB)

TBDSunny Niyomugabo
Regular season record1119615.8654 NBL/RBL championships
Playoffs record462320.535

Head coaches

CoachFromToHonours
Flag of Tanzania.svg Henry MwinukaDecember 2016October 20194x NBL champion
Flag of Kenya.svg Carey Odhiambo [6] November 2019February 2020
Flag of the United States.svg Dean Murray February 2020March 20211x NBL champion
Flag of Kenya.svg Bernard OluochMarch 2021April 2021
Flag of the United States.svg Alan Major April 2021May 2021
Flag of Kenya.svg Ogolla BensonMay 2021December 2022
Flag of Tanzania.svg Henry MwinukaJanuary 2023December 2024
Flag of Rwanda.svg Sunny Niyomugabo [10] January 2025

References

  1. ↑ Rwanda: Basketball - Patriots, Reg Clash in Pre-Season Final Richard Bishumba, AllAfrica.com. 25 November 2016, accessed 11 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Basketball Africa League - BAL". www.thebal.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Bishumba, Richard (10 August 2015). "Espoir retain Hoops Play-offs title". The New Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Pictorial: How Patriots Were Crowned Champions of BK Basketball League". 22 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (26 October 2019). "Mwinuka steps down as Patriots head coach". The New Times . Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Ikipe ya Patriots BBC yabonye abatoza bashya #Rwanda". Kigali Today. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Basketball: Patriots sign new American coach Alan Major". The New Times Rwanda. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "J. Cole makes pro hoops debut in Africa League". ESPN.com. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Basketball Africa League - BAL". www.thebal.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. 1 2 Sikubwabo, Damas (5 May 2025). "How Sunny Niyomugabo is turning the tables for Patriots BBC". The New Times. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  11. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (28 May 2024). "PHOTOS: Patriots ink 5-year sponsorship deal with BRD". The New Times. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Competitions – Rwanda Basketball Federation" . Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (2 March 2024). "Patriots retire former captain Mugabe's jersey". The New Times. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
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