Tag: Rivers Hoopers

Nigeria’s representatives at the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rivers Hoopers, will face AS Douanes of Senegal in one of the four seeding games in the playoffs in Kigali next week.

The two teams played against each other twice in the Sahara Conference held last week in Dakar with each winning one of the ties.

Unlike previous formats where teams advanced straight to the knockout stage (quarterfinals), teams have been paired based on their performance across all three conferences in this season’s playoffs.

The KingsMen, who won the Sahara Conference, are third on the overall standings behind Kalahari Conference champions FUS Rabat of Morocco in second and Nile Conference champions Al Ahly of Egypt, who top the overall standings.

Read Also: Rivers Hoopers finish high at BAL despite loss to US Monastir

AS Douanes finished (4), Petro de Luanda (5), US Monastir (6), Al Ahly Libya (7) and Cape Town Tigers (8).

The winner between Hoopers and AS Douanes (Game 40) will play against the winner between Petro de Luanda and US Monastir (Game 39), while the loser of the tie will square up against the loser of Game 39 in the quarterfinal.

Other quarter final seeding games will see Al Ahly take on FUS Rabat, Petro de Luanda face US Monastir, and Al Ahly Libya play Cape Town Tigers.

The seeding games will take place between May  24 and 25, before the quarter finals tip off on Sunday, 26 May at the BK Arena in Kigali.

Meanwhile, the KingsMen arrived in Lagos this week to continue preparation for the playoffs but will leave for Kigali later this weekend.

Rivers Hoopers concluded their outing at the Sahara Conference of the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with a 4-2 record following a 73-62 loss against former BAL champions, Tunisia’s US Monastir, at the Dakar Arena on Sunday.

Hoopers fielded a much changed starting five from their previous games, as Coach Ogoh Odaudu handed Abel Offia and Johnson Anaiye their first starts in Dakar, alongside BAL Elevate player David Ike, Devine Eke, and John Wilkins.

US Monastir had lost their opening three games at the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference, including a 21-point blowout (84-63) by Rivers Hoopers on Game Day three, but came into the Game Day six encounter full of confidence after securing back-to-back wins against Rwanda’s APR (83-70) and AS Douanes of Senegal (75-69).

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The former BAL Champions, US Monastir, went on a 7-0 scoring run inside the opening three minutes as the KingsMen struggled to get going early on. That margin increased to 15-2 with four minutes left, but the Hoopers rallied to cut the deficit to six as the first quarter ended 19-13 with US Monastir in the lead.

The second quarter ended 20-19 in favour of the Rivers Hoopers, as the KingsMen were much improved in shooting, with Mustapha Oyebanji, John Wilkins, Kelvin Amayo, and Devine Eke scoring big points. However, US Monastir were up for the challenge and also had big scores of their own, taking a 5-point lead into the halftime break with the scores at 38-33.

Rivers Hoopers found it difficult in the third quarter, no thanks to some impressive perimeter defending by US Monastir, especially the 6-foot-1l frame of 2022 BAL Defensive Player of the Year, Ater James Majok, who led the game in rebounds (16). The KingsMen were limited to just 9 points as their opponents put up 18, to stretch their lead to 14 heading into the final quarter at 56-42.

The KingsMen took the fourth quarter 20-17, but that only reduced the deficit to 11 points, as US Monastir, who desperately needed to win to stay alive in the race for a place at the BAL playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda, did just enough to beat a Rivers Hoopers side which had nothing to lose.

Despite the loss, Hoopers finished as the best team in the Sahara Conference, having won 4 out of 6 games, to become the first ever Nigerian team to reach the BAL Playoffs.

Devine Eke finished with a team-high 13 points, while Kelvin Amayo was the only other player to hit double figures for the KingsMen with 10 points.

Mustapha Oyebanji had 5 rebounds and shot 3/7 from beyond the arc to finish with 9 points, the same as David Ike, who had an impressive 80% shooting game. Peter Olisemeka led the Hoopers in rebounds with 10.

In total, the Hoopers bench contributed 24 points, with Abel Offia ( five points), Michael Daramola, Vincent Onyebuchi (3 rebounds), and Victor Koko all enjoying game time.

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu attributed the defeat to fatigue.

“Fatigue had started settling in from the second round so everyone was tired and also Monastir wanted it more,” he said. “When the news went out we had qualified that also did not help so they didn’t have the same fire as today but majorly it was fatigue.”

Rivers Hoopers will now head back to Nigeria to start preparation for the 2024 BAL Playoffs, scheduled to start 24 May, in Kigali, Rwanda.

Five-time Nigerian Champions, Rivers Hoopers, reached a new milestone at the ongoing 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) by defeating Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) 86-82 to become the first Nigerian team to win consecutive games at the BAL.

A day after their victory over home team and 2023 BAL runners-up AS Douanes in their Sahara Conference opener, the KingsMen showed good quality, great composure, and incredible game management to steer clear of a resilient APR team which came into the encounter brimming with confidence after they had stunned former champions US Monastir of Tunisia following an overtime victory in their opening fixture.

APR were purposeful in possession and scored the first points in what turned out to be a tightly contested encounter, but Will Perry responded straight away for the Hoopers with a well-timed layup to even the scores. The back and forth continued between both teams, and with the KingsMen trailing by 1 point in the final 35 seconds of the 1st quarter, Devine Eke finished off a brilliant alley-oop in transition after being found by a great floating pass from Kelvin Amayo to put Rivers Hoopers in front by 1 point with the scores at 19-18 to end the first quarter.

Both teams continued to play with freedom up front while maintaining good defense, with Hoopers opening a four-point lead inside the first five minutes of the second quarter, but APR rallied back to tie the game at 40-all with the last play at the end of the second quarter to ensure that both teams went into the break all squared.

The game remained a close affair, which saw the lead change hands at least six times by the opening three minutes of the third quarter, but Rivers Hoopers once again put their noses in front with the scores at 63-62 heading into the fourth.

The KingsMen took the fight to their Rwandan counterparts and raced into a 10-point lead (the game’s biggest lead) with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, just as in their opening day victory over US Monastir, APR rallied back to reduce the deficit, although it was too little too late as Will Perry converted two late free throws to seal an 86-82 victory for Rivers Hoopers.

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Those two late free throws contributed to a team-leading 31 points overall for Will Perry, who played every second of the encounter, going 4/4 from free throws while also shooting a game-high 7/13 from 3-point range. Perry also had 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals and was named the game’s top performer.

Just as he did in Game 1 against AS Douanes, Kelvin Amayo once again led the game in assists, with 7 to his name, along with 13 points and 3 steals. Game one’s top performer, Devine Eke, finished with 19 points and a game-high 8 rebounds, tied with Hoopers’ NBA Africa Academy/BAL Elevate player David Ike, who put up an impressive showing. Peter Olisemeka finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds, while John Wilkins made 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.

The win means Rivers Hoopers, who came into the 2024 BAL with a 1-2 (win-lose) record from their previous appearance at the inaugural edition of the tournament, have now won consecutive BAL games for the first time, improving to 2-0 for the season and 3-2 overall.

The KingsMen will next face former champions US Monastir of Tunisia at 5pm tomorrow.

Ahead of the Sahara Conference phase of the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rivers Hoopers guard Kelvin Amayo believes the Nigerian Champions can match any team at Africa’s elite club basketball showpiece.

Amayo, who joined Rivers Hoopers ahead of the 2024 BAL, has been in training camp with the rest of the Hoopers squad since  April 9^th, hailed the quality of his teammates and coaching crew.

“[We have a] good team. Everyone is playing hard, playing defence, and we’re learning every day. [My teammates] play very hard and catch up to things very quickly. Coach is doing a really good job with conditioning, teaching the concept of defence, and helping us understand who is who early so that everyone knows what they need to do from the beginning,” he said.

Amayo, who was an integral member of the Stade Malien team that won the Sahara Conference and placed third overall at last season’s BAL, also stated that he hopes his experience will help Rivers Hoopers perform better at this year’s BAL than in their debut appearance three years ago.

“[I’m bringing] experience, defence, energy. Just being able to come in as a person that played in the BAL last year and did pretty well, to show them that we can do better than we did in other years for Nigeria,” he told Hoopers media.

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 At the 2024 BAL, Rivers Hoopers will play in a tough Sahara Conference which features former champions US Monastir, 2023 runners-up AS Douanes, and Rwandan champions APR.

However, having experienced the BAL in its third season, the Canadian-born Nigerian said the KingsMen have what it takes to go toe-to-toe against a strong group of teams in the Sahara Conference.

When asked if he was confident in the team’s ability to compete against some of Africa’s best basketball teams, he said, “Yes! Why not? We have a group that’s ready to play hard; we have foreign players that understand what it takes to play in the BAL and what Nigeria basketball culture is. I feel like we could play against anybody and play hard.”

The 32-year-old also stated that the Rivers Hoopers are focused and ready for the BAL 2024, and promised basketball lovers a better glimpse of the team’s quality when they play at the BAL.

“The group here is ready, and we’ve been playing hard, we’ve been practicing hard, everybody is focused, and we’re just ready for the team to get better. This club is in really good shape, and we’re focused. I feel like a lot of people do not understand how strong we really are, but when we get there [to BAL 2024], I feel like people will get a better glimpse,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, the KingsMen arrived in Lagos yesterday  for their final phase of training before heading out to Dakar, Senegal, where they will take on home team AS Douanes in their first game at the Sahara Conference on Saturday, 4^th  May.

Nigeria Premier Basketball League Champions, Rivers Hoopers began their title defense of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship with an 80-72 victory over Ghana’s Braves of GRA.

Three players finished in double figures for Hoopers; Mustapha Oyebanji had 15 points including four 3s, Abel Offia added 14 while Michael Oriakhi scored 13.

Braves were the quickest out of the blocks as they took the fight to Hoopers, finishing the first quarter with a 1-point lead at 19-18.

Rivers Hoopers gradually found their groove with some good shooting by Oyebanji, Oriakhi, Offia, and an improved team performance overall to end the second quarter six points ahead, leading 45-39.

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The third quarter was the lowest scoring quarter of the game as both sides improved defensively. Rivers Hoopers led by nine points early into the third quarter, but the Braves of GRA (Ghana) fought back valiantly to reduce the deficit to two points.

However, the KingsMen rallied to end the third quarter strongly, building a 4-point lead to head into the fourth quarter at 59-55.

Rivers Hoopers took control of the fourth quarter and had answers to every question asked by the relentless Braves of GRA (Ghana), as the KingsMen closed out the contest with an 8-point lead at 80-72.

The KingsMen shot 14-threes against Braves and made 10/13 from the line.

Next up for Rivers Hoopers is a date with Comets at 7pm today  at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Rivers Hoopers have touched down in Lagos for the third edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship.

The defending champions have been drawn in a formidable group alongside Ebun Comets, Hoops & Read, Kwara Falcons, and the Braves of Ghana.

The KingsMen secured victory in the last edition with a commanding 74-56 win over the Spintex Knights of Ghana. They now have their sights set on securing back-to-back titles.

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Moreover, with the imminent participation in Season Four of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rivers Hoopers would use the Louis Edem tournament as a crucial dress rehearsal for the elite competition.

The third edition of the Louis Edem Basketball Competition  tipped off  yesterday at the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

Nigeria’s representatives at the 2024 Basketball Africa League, Rivers Hoopers, have signed John Wilkins for this season’s edition.

Wilkins was part of the Stade Malien team which finished third at last season’s BAL.

He dropped an impressive 18 points in their win over Cape Town Tigers and was awarded Visit Rwanda Player of the Game in the quarterfinals of the 2023 BAL.

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Born in 1989 to former NBA player Jeff Wilkins, the experienced center has played in Belgium, France, Morocco, and Germany.

The French-American played for Morocco’s national team at the 2017 AfroBasket in Tunisia and Senegal.

Wilkins is the third import player signed by the KingsMen for Season Four of the Basketball Africa League.

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu has admitted   being handed a huge task after Thursday’s 2024 Basketball Africa League draw.

Hoopers were drawn against former champions US Monastir, APR of Rwanda, and Senegal’s AS Douanes in the Sahara Conference.

Top two teams will advance to the BAL playoffs scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 24 to the first of June.

There will also be a slot for two best third-placed teams from across the three conferences (Kalahari, Nile, and Sahara).

“The group is obviously a very tough one,” Odaudu said. ”Former champions US Monastir, APR who defeated the Rwandan team (REG), who were at the BAL last year; they are a very tough team too. Of course, last year’s finalist, AS Douanes, is in that group, so we have been placed in the group of death.

Read Also: Rivers Hoopers to play in BAL Sahara Conference

While the other two conferences will hold in March and April, the Nigeria Premier League Champions won’t play until May 4.

Odaudu added ”Notwithstanding, we have enough time to prepare and be there. We will overcome once the jump ball comes.”

Since the inaugural edition in 2021, Rivers Hoopers and Kwara Falcons are the only Nigerian teams who have played in the BAL, and neither have gone past the group stage.

The former Nigeria international wants his team to be the first Nigerian team to make it to the playoffs of the Basketball Africa League.

“First and foremost, getting out of the group is our target for this year’s BAL. We are tired of just going to participate and coming back home after the first round.

“For us this season, we want to ensure we get to Kigali and be in the playoffs. Whatever happens from there on is a bonus.”