Rivers Hoopers Crush Comets 80-50 for Back-to-Back NPBL Wins

Rivers Hoopers delivered a commanding performance in Ibadan on Monday, defeating Comets Basketball Club 80-50 to secure their second consecutive victory of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) season.

The KingsMen built a 10-point lead by halftime (43-33) before tightening their defensive grip in the second half, restricting Comets to just 17 points.

Their relentless pressing and perimeter defending forced 27 turnovers, which translated into 32 points and 12 fast-break opportunities.

Interim Head Coach Ronald Alalibo praised his team’s defensive intensity and collective effort.

‘Defense they say wins you championships. Yesterday we had some defensive lapses, we made some adjustments, and everybody came out to play today,’ he said.

Alalibo rotated his squad effectively, ensuring every player on the roster logged at least 16 minutes, with the bench contributing 37 points, nearly half of the team’s total.

Duro-Ladipo Olatoye, who previously played for Comets, added eight points with perfect shooting inside the arc. He credited the team’s ability to build momentum from their opening win.

‘We did a very good job of building momentum from yesterday, and that was the plan coming into the game. So, a good win for us,’ he noted.

Abel Offia and Chinedu Nwaogu led the scoring with 16 points apiece, while captain Victor Koko chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

Despite the emphatic victory, Alalibo stressed the importance of maintaining focus ahead of their next fixture.

‘Our plan is to maintain or increase intensity on defense and also be aware that Raptors have some good players. If we give them the opportunity to express themselves, they might be a thorn in our skin. So we’ll try as much as possible to limit them,’ he said.