Rivers Hoopers show grit and class to overpower Lagos Legends

Reigning Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) champions Rivers Hoopers delivered a commanding performance marked by resilience and tactical brilliance, overturning a halftime deficit to defeat Lagos Legends 89–70 in the final game of Atlantic Conference Phase Two.

The clash, a battle for pride and supremacy, began with Lagos Legends asserting early dominance. They raced to a 26–17 lead by the end of the first quarter, capitalizing on Rivers Hoopers’ missed opportunities and shaky start.

However, the KingsMen regrouped in the second quarter. Vice-captain Buchi Nwaiwu and Victor Sunday combined for 14 points, helping to trim the deficit to just four at halftime, with the scoreboard reading 47–43.

During the break, Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu made key tactical adjustments, particularly in transition defense—a weakness that had allowed Lagos to thrive in the first half.

‘The first thing I spoke about in the huddle was transition defense, the need to get back quickly,’ Odaudu said. ‘We didn’t do that well early on, and they punished us. But once we corrected it, the game shifted in our favour.’

The third quarter saw Rivers Hoopers respond with renewed energy, spurred on by a passionate home crowd. Samuel Sani impressed with his hustle and rebounding, while John Idoga electrified the arena with a deep three-pointer to tie the game at 61–61.

Moments later, Abdul Malik capped off the quarter with a free throw and a slick layup, giving the Hoopers their first lead of the night at 64–61.

From there, the momentum was unstoppable. Rivers Hoopers dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Lagos Legends 25–9 and sealing a comprehensive 89–70 victory.

Coach Odaudu was full of praise for his players, especially Malik and Favour Komene, who stepped up when it mattered most.

‘I’m very proud of both of them,’ he said. ‘They changed the tempo and dynamic of the game. These are players who hadn’t seen major minutes before, but they rose to the occasion. That’s what makes this team special—anyone can be the hero.’

Top scorers for the KingsMen included Buchi Nwaiwu and John Idoga with 15 points each, while Sani added 14 and Victor Sunday chipped in with 12.

Despite the win and a perfect record in Phase Two, Odaudu remained critical of the team’s early performance.

‘I’m happy with the clean sweep, but not entirely with how we played,’ he admitted. ‘We started poorly, made too many mistakes, and missed open baskets. We’ll need to go back to the drawing board.’

With Phase Two wrapped up, attention now turns to Phase Three of the NBPL 2025 season, where the top four teams from both conferences will converge for the Playoffs at a venue yet to be announced.