Tag: Rivers Hoopers

Following their 77-65 victory over Hoops & Read on Thursday in Akure, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu said the goal is to finish the Conference 8 without a defeat.

In a thrilling game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the KingsMen dominated for most of the game and only took their foot off the gas in the latter part of the final quarter.

The KingsMen built a double-digit lead 36-26 with 1:38 remaining in the first half and extended it to 20 points (71-51) with two minutes left to play. They, however, found their lead cut down to 12.

Michael Oriakhi, Abel Offia, Victor Anthony Koko and Michael Daramola all combined for 49 points for Hoopers.

Offia scored nine of his 15 points in the second quarter, including two 3-pointers.

Odaudu admitted the game was very tough but remains happy they got the win.

“It was very, very intense. We knew Hoops and Read were a formidable team. We knew they were going to be one of our major opponents here. We had talked about all that we needed to do this morning. We went back and forth. All in all, it was a very good game. The boys played very well, and they stuck to the instructions.”

The ex-international frowned at the way his boys gave up eight points in the last few minutes of the game.

Read Also: Unstoppable Rivers Hoopers rout Comets for third straight win

”I am just not happy we didn’t finish the game the way we wanted to; they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Hoops & Read to close down the margin,” he said.

Rivers Hoopers next game is against Lagos Legends today. A win will seal Hoopers’ spot in the final four. Odaudu expects another tough match.

”Legends is another strong team. We know it is not the same team we played in Asaba, it is an entirely different team. They have three new additions, and all of them can play, so it makes a difference.

 ”We are just going to stick to our game plan of what we need to do, which we have already discussed. We need that game to solidify our position in the final four.”

Odaudu added: “The goal is to finish unbeaten but basketball is not played on paper so anything can happen but I am hoping we remain victorious. The boys are very motivated and I am confident we will win tomorrow’s(today) game.”

Bolaji Emilagba had a game high 19 points and the Rivers Hoopers demolished Ebun Comets 82-54 at the Nigeria Premier Basketball League Conference 8 on Wednesday in Akure.

Buchi Nwaiwu added 12 points, Michael Daramola had 11 and Victor Mohammed also had 11 in the game, mostly dominated by Rivers Hoopers.

Hoopers shook off a slow start to the game and made their first basket 5 minutes into the first quarter. Emilagba shot back to back threes to lead Comets 17-12 going into the second quarter.

Emilagba said: ‘The game started slow for us, but we later picked up towards the end of the first quarter and we never looked back.

”We stepped up our defense they had a shooter that shot some threes in the first quarter, so we caught him off and took care of other things, and we were able to get the win.”

After a 13-2 run, Hoopers struggled on the offensive end with a scoreless run for 3 minutes. With 1:49 minutes remaining, Daramola made a huge dunk to get Hoopers back on track.

Emilagba praised the team coached by former D’Tigers coach Ayodele Bakare for a resilient display in the second first half.

Read Also: UCL: Preview, team news of Real Madrid Vs Braga

”They are being coached by one of the best coaches in Nigeria. After first quarter, he must have seen a lot that we were doing, and he probably instructed his boys on how to defend us, but we also made sure they were not scoring too.”

With 2:16 remaining in the third, the KingsMen increased the lead to 21 points (56-35) and further extended it to 61-39 going into the final quarter.

Comets had no chance in the fourth and were ravaged by injuries as they recorded a second consecutive defeat in the Nigeria Premier Basketball League Atlantic Conference 8.

It is the second time in two months that Hoopers have emerged victorious over Comets since the Louis Edem Invitational Championship in Lagos in September.

The four-time Nigeria League champions will face Hoops & Read in another game today.

Rivers Hoopers dismantled arch rivals Kwara Falcons 83-56 in their second game of the Atlantic Conference 8 of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League on Tuesday in Akure.

Michael Oriakhi shot (14), Abel Offia (14) and Michael Daramola (12) all from the bench.

For a second consecutive game, Offia scored four 3s out of 13 made by Hoopers in the game.

The KingsMen got off to an early lead, 11-4, but Falcons rallied back to tie the game 13-13 with 3:13 left in the first quarter. That was the last time the defending champions came close in the game.

With a 17-5 run at the start of the third quarter, Falcons found it difficult to find a rhythm on either end as Hoopers took advantage of their poor transition to up their lead to 23.

The defending champions were left helpless and could barely do much to turn the game around.

Oriakhi shot consecutive three pointers in the fourth to stretch the lead to 34 points.

”I  am glad we took it all the way from the first quarter to the end of the game and I am glad we came out with two wins,” said Oriakhi.

Read Also: Rivers Hoopers set for NBBF Atlantic Conference 8

”We came out to win and eventually we did . We came out strong because we are playing the defending champions of the league and we have to come out strong because we are Hoopers. We know what we do best. We shoot the ball well and play good defense and that was what gave us the win today.”

The former Falcons guard knows what his former side is capable of, having played for them in the 2023 Basketball Africa League.

”Have played with them and I know their system and I know what they do. If you give this team the opportunity, they will make use of it and, playing today against them I knew I had to come out strong against the defending champions.” 

Hoopers face Ebun Comets in their third game today and Oriakhi believes they will get the win.

”We are coming out strong, same energy, same intensity and by God’s grace we will get the win.”

Four-time champions of the Nigeria Basketball League Rivers Hoopers have arrived in Akure, Ondo state venue of the NBBF Premier League Atlantic Conference Final 8.

A total of 12 teams competed in the first phase of the Atlantic Conference held in Asaba and Ibadan in October.

The top four teams from each of the zones qualified for the next phase.

They are: Rivers Hoopers, Lagos Legends, Police Batons, and Delta Force from the Asaba zone. Kwara Falcons, Ebun Comets, Hoops & Read, and Oluyole Warriors finished from the Ibadan zone.

Read Also: Impressive Rivers Hoopers remains unbeaten at Louis Edem tourney

Meanwhile, Delta Force has pulled out of the NBBF Phase 2 tournament. Consequently, only seven teams will slug it out for the two spots in the Final Four.

Two teams each will qualify from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences as all four battle for the Basketball Africa League ticket.

The Atlantic Conference 8 which tips off today will be rounded up next Sunday, 12th November in Akure.

Former Nigeria League champions Rivers Hoopers survived a late scare to defeat Ogun Warlords 55-52 in their last Group B game of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship yesterday.

Rivers Hoopers were in control of the game for most part of the game and led by 10 points at the end of the first half (32-22).

With five minutes left to play, the Warlords shot three consecutive three-pointers to reduce the deficit to 2 (46-44).

Read Also: Louis Edem  tourney : Rivers Hoopers through to semis

Kingsley Anaba shot 8 points in the fourth quarter to help the KingsMen finish unbeaten in the group phase.

Hoopers forward Kingsley Anaba attributed their poor fourth quarter to poor defensive approach.

“We were weak on defense and we had to step up, be patient, that was what gave us the victory.

Anaba said there were lessons to be learnt ahead of the semis on Friday.

“We have to be disciplined and not underrate any team no matter the team we play against, he said.”

Rivers Hoopers will face Lagos Raptors in the semi -final today at 5pm while defending champions Kwara Falcons will play against Spintex Knights of Ghana at 3pm.

The KingsMen will hope to make the final after losing to Kwara Falcons in the semifinal of the first edition held in February this year.