Tag: Kelvin Amayo

  • BAL seeding matchup: Amayo fancies  Rivers Hoopers to drown US Monastir

    BAL seeding matchup: Amayo fancies  Rivers Hoopers to drown US Monastir

    Rivers Hoopers guard Kelvin Amayo is confident that the KingsMen will showcase a high level of intensity on defense ahead of their seeding game against US Monastir on June 7 in Pretoria.

    The KingsMen, who are ranked fourth, will be up against third seed, Us Monastir, in a seeding game tomorrow.

    Amayo was gracious and quick to congratulate US Monastir for entering the BAL Season 5 Playoffs as Sahara Conference winners.

     He said, “I just want to say congrats to US Monastir. I watched them in the Sahara Conference, [and] they played well. They’re definitely not the same team from last year to this year.

    Amayo, who led the Kalahari Conference in blocks, believes that the team’s defensive efforts will be crucial in limiting the Sahara Conference winners.

     “I think what we are going to do is showcase a high level of intensity in the defensive end,” Amayo said.

    The 6-foot-4 guard has a positive record against US Monastir, having helped Rivers Hoopers win 92-88 in the 2024 BAL quarterfinals with 18 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists.

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    Both teams have grown to become familiar foes at the BAL and are now set for the fifth instalment of their growing rivalry, with the previous four meetings evenly split at two wins apiece.

    Most recently, the KingsMen knocked out US Monastir in an electrifying quarter-final showdown at the BAL Season 4, which ended 92-88 in favour of the Hoopers.

    They face the KingsMen on Saturday, June 7, in one of the four seeding games before the 2025 BAL quarter-finals at 6pm local time (6pm Nigerian time), and Amayo is positive about the meeting.

     “Everybody is going to have fun, and I think Saturday is a great game for everybody to come and watch,” Amayo added.

  • Rivers Hoopers rehire  Amayo for Basketball Africa League

    Rivers Hoopers rehire  Amayo for Basketball Africa League

    Kelvin Amayo has re-signed for the reigning Nigerian champions, Rivers Hoopers for season five of the Basketball Africa League.

    Amayo was instrumental in the team’s third place finish at last year’s edition of the Basketball Africa League.

    The Canadian-born Nigerian averaged 16 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.3 RPG and 2.2 STLPG to finish in the All-BAL Second Team (2024) and BAL All-Defensive Second Team (2024).

    Read Also: NPFL: Rivers United close gap on leaders Remo Stars

    In November, Amayo helped the KingsMen win the Nigeria Premier Basketball League and also picked the ticket to the BAL. He also finished as MVP of the League.

    The two-time third place winner of the Basketball Africa League, becomes Rivers Hoopers’ first signing ahead of this season’s BAL.

    Hoopers will tip off the season against Stade Malien on Saturday, 5 April, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.