Patriots BBC

Patriots
Patriots logo
LeaguesRwanda Basketball League
Founded2014
HistoryPatriots BBC
(2014–present)
ArenaAmahoro Indoor Stadium / Kigali Arena
Capacity2,500 / 10,000
LocationKigali, Rwanda
Team colorsRed, Black, Gold, White
       
Main sponsorRwanda Development Bank
PresidentBrian Kirungi
Head coachHenry Mwinuka
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]

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.

Sponsorships

In 2024, Patriots BBC signed a five-year sponsorship contract with the Rwanda Development Bank (RDB).[10]

Players

Current roster

As of 14 July 2024[11]

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 Rwanda RWA Bruno Nyamwasa
1 F Rwanda RWA Furaha de Dieu
2 SG United States USA Will Perry
5 PG Rwanda RWA Sedar Sagamba
10 C Rwanda RWA Frank Betoudji
12 SG Rwanda RWA Kenny Gasana
13 F/C Rwanda RWA Bienvenu Niyonsaba
15 F/C Rwanda RWA Olivier Kamilindi
23 F Rwanda RWA Steven Hagumintwari
32 SG Rwanda RWA Samuel Ndayizeye
34 SG Rwanda RWA Dieudonné Ndizeye

Retired numbers

Patriots BBC retired numbers
N° Player Position Tenure Ceremony date
88 Aristide Mugabe SG 2015–2023 2 March 2024[12]


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

  • Winners (4): 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020

BAL

  • Fourth Place (1): 2021

Season by season

League champions Playoff berth
Season Tier League Regular season Post-season Cup competitions Head coach
Finish Played Wins Losses Win %
Patriots BBC
2016–17 1 NBL 1st Not held Henry Mwinuka
2017–18 League not played
2018–19 1 NBL 1st 16 14 2 .875 Won semifinals (APR) 3–2
Won finals (REG) 4–3 		Runners-up (HC)
2019–20 1 NBL 1st 3 3 0 1.000 Won semifinals (IPRC-Kigali) 88–59
Won finals (REG) 76–61 		Carey Odhiambo
2020–21 1 NBL 1st 12 11 1 .917 Won quarterfinals (30 Plus) 106–61
Won semifinals (APR) 2–0
Lost finals (REG) 0–2 		Cancelled Dean Murray
2021–22 1 RBL 1st 24 22 2 .917 Won semifinals (Tigers) 2–0
Lost finals (REG) 2–3 		Not organised Ogolla Benson
2022–23 1 RBL 2nd 22 19 3 .864 Lost semifinals (APR) 0–2 Not organised Henry Mwinuka
2023–24 1 RBL 1st 18 17 1 .944 Won semifinals (Kepler) 3–0

Lost finals (APR) 2–4

Semifinalist (RC)
Regular season record 95 86 9 .905 4 NBL/RBL championships
Playoffs record 37 21 16 .568

Head coaches

Coach From To Honours
Tanzania Henry Mwinuka December 2016 October 2019 4x NBL champion
Kenya Carey Odhiambo[6] November 2019 February 2020
United States Dean Murray February 2020 March 2021 1x NBL champion
Kenya Bernard Oluoch March 2021 April 2021
United States Alan Major April 2021 May 2021
Kenya Ogolla Benson May 2021 December 2022
Tanzania Henry Mwinuka January 2023 present

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. ^ a b "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. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (28 May 2024). "PHOTOS: Patriots ink 5-year sponsorship deal with BRD". The New Times. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Competitions – Rwanda Basketball Federation". Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  12. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (2 March 2024). "Patriots retire former captain Mugabe's jersey". The New Times. Retrieved 15 March 2024.