Standings and Playoff Qualifications
At the end of the group stage, the top 4 teams from each conference (8 teams total) advance to the playoffs in Kigali.
Ranking and Seeding: Teams will be ranked and seeded, as applicable, as set forth below.
a. Ranking Teams Within A Conference: In determining the ranking of Teams in a Conference at the end of the Regular Season, the following rules shall apply (provided that each Team plays in all Games in which it is scheduled to play during the Regular Season):
(1) The rankings of Teams in a Conference will be based on each Team’s win-loss record. Teams with better win-loss records will be ranked higher.
(2) If two or more Teams in a Conference have the same win-loss record across all Games, the Game(s) between such two or more Teams shall decide their respective rankings.
(3) If such two or more Teams have the same win-loss record across the respective Games between them, further criteria will be applied in the following order:
- (A) Higher point differential (i.e., the difference between the aggregate points scored by a Team and the aggregate points conceded by such Team) in the Games between the respective Teams.
- (B) Higher number of points scored in the Games between the respective Teams.
- (C) Higher average point differential in all Games played against other Teams in the Conference.
- (D) Higher average number of points scored in all Games played against other Teams in the Conference.
(4) If these criteria still cannot determine a ranking, the ranking shall be decided by a drawing.
(5) If at any level of these criteria one or more Team(s) can be ranked, the procedure shall be repeated from the beginning in respect of any remaining Teams not yet ranked.
b. Seeding Teams Progressing to the Playoffs: With respect to the Teams progressing to the Playoffs, in determining the seeding of such Teams for the Playoffs, the following rules shall apply (provided that each Team played in all Games in which it is scheduled to play during the Regular Season):
(1) The seeding of Teams will be based on each Team’s win-loss record. Teams with better win-loss records will be seeded higher.
(2) If two or more Teams have the same win-loss record across all Games, the Game(s) between such two or more Teams shall decide their respective and relative seeding (if and as applicable).
(3) If such two or more Teams have the same win-loss record across the respective Games between them, or some or all of those Teams have not competed against each other, further criteria will be applied in the following order (and if certain of the Teams have not competed against each other, the criteria (C) and (D) shall apply only):
- (A) Higher point differential (i.e., the difference between the aggregate points scored by a Team and the aggregate points conceded by such Team) in the Games between the respective Teams.
- (B) Higher number of points scored in the Games between the respective Teams.
- (C) Higher average point differential in all Games played against other Teams.
- (D) Higher average number of points scored in all Games played against other Teams.
(4) If these criteria still cannot determine a seeding, the seeding shall be decided by a drawing.
(5) If at any level of these criteria one or more Team(s) can be seeded, the procedure shall be repeated from the beginning in respect of any remaining Teams not yet seeded.
Playoffs: The playoffs begin with eight teams.
- Quarterfinals (best of 2 games): Each team plays two games. The team with the higher aggregate score across both games advances. If the aggregate score is tied, overtime will be played to determine the winner.1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5.
- Semifinals: The four winners face each other.
- Championship: The two semifinal winners compete for the title.
- Third Place Game: The two semifinal losers play to decide who finishes third.
It’s a clear knockout system: win to advance, lose and you’re eliminated (except for the third‑place game).