Rivers Hoopers Rally Past Blazers 74-62 in NPBL Phase Two Clash
Rivers Hoopers battled through a hostile atmosphere and a late-game confrontation to secure a hard-fought 74-62 victory over hosts Coal City Blazers on Day Two of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Phase Two.
The contest turned chaotic in the final minute when a cynical foul on Hoopers guard Victor Sunday sparked a scuffle involving players and coaches, resulting in technical fouls for both benches.
Despite the disruption, the Hoopers maintained composure and rode a dominant third-quarter surge to silence the home crowd.
Trailing 33-35 at halftime, the KingsMen turned the tide with relentless defensive pressure, outscoring the Blazers 17-8 in the third period to establish a lead that proved decisive.
Point guards Victor Sunday and Anaiye Johnson spearheaded the revival with sharp ball-handling and aggressive drives, while Samuel Sani and Buchi Vincent anchored the paint with crucial rebounds and timely scoring.
‘It was very physical, but it’s something we anticipated given that the home team would come out fighting,’ interim head coach Ronald Alalibo said.
He credited the team’s roster depth and recruitment strategy for weathering the Blazers’ high-energy style.
‘We try as much as possible to recruit personnel that can feature in different aspects of the game. Other than shooting from range, we needed fighters who could also handle the ball well.’
Reflecting on the late-game altercation, Alalibo urged for calmer heads as the tournament progresses.
‘Everybody wants to play, and naturally, with rising adrenaline levels, tempers begin to flare. But if we can keep calm and not let the crowd disrupt the game, everyone goes home safe, which is very important.’
The Hoopers now face a quick turnaround as they prepare to meet rivals Hoops & Read on Monday. The two sides split their previous meetings during the Atlantic Conference Phase One, with the Hoopers winning 84-58 before Hoops & Read responded with a 70-65 victory.
‘We’ll try as much as possible to allow the players get enough rest because we know Monday’s game will also be physical,’ Alalibo added. ‘But we’re here to compete, and with the personnel we have, we just have to step on the court and play better than we did today.’
