Rivers Hoopers launch NBPL Phase Two with hard-fought victory over Hoops & Read

Defending champions Rivers Hoopers kicked off Phase Two of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) with a gritty 67-58 win over Hoops & Read on Sunday at the Indoor Basketball Court, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.

The clash opened with high intensity as both sides traded early blows, but it was the composure of captain Victor Koko and the hustle of Victor Sunday that gave the KingsMen their first 13 points, helping them close the opening quarter with a 17-11 lead.

Hoops & Read, runners-up in the 2024 NBPL season, responded in the second quarter with a 9-2 run that narrowed the gap to just two points at 27-25. Rivers Hoopers, however, regained control before halftime, thanks to a dominant showing from Buchi Nwaiwu, who scored six points in the paint to push the score to 36-28.

The visitors silenced the home crowd early in the third quarter with an 11-3 surge that leveled the game at 39-39, prompting Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu to call a timeout.

‘I just called them to remind them of the things we did in practice and what they were supposed to do. Basketball is a game of runs. They made a run and they tied the game; we strategized and came back with our own run to pull away,’ Odaudu said.

Odaudu, the 2024 Basketball Africa League Coach of the Season, made tactical substitutions, bringing back Mustapha Oyebanji and Michael Okiki.

Okiki responded with six of his team-high 13 points as the KingsMen launched a 13-0 run to close the third quarter ahead 54-44.

Rivers Hoopers managed the final quarter with discipline, securing a nine point win. Despite the result, Coach Odaudu acknowledged the need for improvement.

‘It was scrappy. We didn’t play the way we were supposed to play,’ he admitted. ‘We’re happy with the win whether we played well or not, but we have to play better.’

Earlier in the day, Lagos Legends cruised past Comets with a 70-46 victory. Rivers Hoopers will rest on Day Two of Atlantic Conference action, while Kwara Falcons face Lagos Legends and Hoops & Read take on Comets at 5pm.