2023 RBL season explained

2023 RBL season
Association:FERWABA
League:Rwanda Basketball League
Sport:Basketball
Duration:12 January – 9 September 2023
No Of Teams:12
Season:Regular season
Top Seed:REG
Playoffs:Playoffs
Playoffs Link:
  1. Playoffs
Prevseason Year:2021–22
Prevseason Link:2021–22 RBL season
Nextseason Year:2024
Nextseason Link:2024 RBL season
Top Scorer:Olivier Turatsinze (Espoir)
Relegate To:Division 2
Relegate:RP-IPRC Huye
RP-IPRC Kigali
Shoot For The Stars
RP-IPRC Musanze
Playoffs Mvp:Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza
(APR)
Finals Champ:APR
(14th title)
Finals Runner-Up:REG
Mvp:Olivier Turatsinze (Espoir)

The 2023 RBL season was the second season of the Rwanda Basketball League under its current name, while the top-level competition has been organised by the FERWABA for a longer time. The season began on 12 January 2023 with the regular season.[1] The playoffs began on 23 August and ended on 9 September 2023.[2]

APR won a record-extending 14th national title, following a clean sweep of defending champions REG in the finals. With their victory, APR ended a 14-year title drought.[3] APR guard Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza was named Playoffs MVP.[4]

As champions, APR quaified directly for the 2024 BAL season.

Team changes

Team changes

Orion was promoted on 17 July 2022 after reaching the finals of the Rwanda Basketball League Division 2.[5] Kigali Titans were also promoted as the D2 champions.[6]

Foreign players

The following non-African players played in the RBL in the 2023 season:[7]

Regular season

The regular season was decreased from thirteen to twelve teams. This season, four teams are relegated to the Division 2, and the 2024 season will begin with ten teams.

Results

Playoffs

By losing the semi-finals to APR BBC, the Patriots did not reach the finals for the first time in 9 years. APR won finals in a clean sweep, defeating the defending champions REG BBC in four games. This was the league’s first-ever sweep since introducing the best-of-seven format.

In the third place series, the Patriots forfeited Game 1 after not showing up, which resulted in a victory for Espoir BBC.[9]

Semifinals

(2) Patriots vs. (3) APR

Finals

Awards and statistics

Season awards

The winners of the annual awards were announced after the last game of the finals, on 9 September.[10]

Individual statistical leaders

After the regular season.[12]

CategoryPlayerTeam(s)Statistic
Points Olivier TuratzinseEspoir471
ReboundsKamndoh Betoudji FrankUnited Generations for Basketball269
AssiSFTJean de Dieu NiyungehoEspoir125
StealsOlivier TuratzinseEspoir69
BlocksKamndoh Betoudji FrankUnited Generations for Basketball59

References

  1. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-01-12 . Basketball is back! . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  2. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-08-16 . Basketball league playoffs due on August 23 . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  3. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-09-09 . PHOTOS: Basketball: APR clinch first championship in 14 years . 2023-09-10 . The New Times . en.
  4. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-09-09 . Nshobozwa, Trakh lead 2023 basketball league individual awards . 2023-09-10 . The New Times . en.
  5. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2022-07-17 . Basketball: Orion promoted to topflight league . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  6. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-01-11 . Kigali Titans: What you need to know about the ambitious topflight newcomers . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  7. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-08-09 . Basketball: Competition hots up as APR, Patriots reinforce rosters . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  8. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-02-15 . Spaniard Masa signs for Kigali Titans . 2023-08-18 . The New Times . en.
  9. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-09-03 . Patriots forfeit Game 1 in third-place playoffs . 2023-09-10 . The New Times . en.
  10. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . Nshobozwa, Trakh lead 2023 basketball league individual awards . The New Times . 9 September 2023.
  11. Web site: FERWABA. 9 September 2023 . Congratulations to Olivier Turatsinze, the #RBL2023 MVP and the top scorer of the 2023 League . 2023-10-29 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  12. News: Leaders . FERWABA . 2023-08-18.