Nigeria Premier Basketball League Final Eight: Rivers Hoopers in blowout win over Gombe Bulls

Rivers Hoopers maintained their winning streak in the league this season with an 87-56 victory over Gombe Bulls on Day one of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League Final Eight in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Hoopers led from start to finish and gave no chance to Gombe Bulls, who also had to deal with fatigue after arriving on Thursday morning for the event.

Kelvin Amayo led three other scorers in double figures: Amayo had 18 points, Patrick Abah added 16 points, Ifeanyi Koko added 11 points, and Abel Offia had 10 points.

Amayo added 5 assists and steals, while Abah was one rebound short of a double-double with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, including 2 threes in the game.

Hoopers shot to a 9-6 lead early in the game and stretched it to an 11-point lead at halftime (40-29).

The KingsMen got back at halftime with better intensity as they left Gombe Bulls with no choice but to settle for a defeat in front of the Hoopers raucous home crowd.

Former league champion Celestine Nwafor is the only player who finished in double figures for Gombe Bulls with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

The KingsMen outrebounded Gombe 59-39, shot eight three-pointers in the game, and forced Gombe to commit 29 turnovers in the game.

Rivers Hoopers will be back on the court to play Kwara Falcons on Friday at 6pm.