Rivers Hoopers suffered a narrow 70-65 loss to Hoops & Read on Day Four of Atlantic Conference Group A action at the 2026 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NPBL) Phase I in Ibadan on Wednesday.
After taking control with a 14-point advantage early in the third quarter, the KingsMen saw their momentum slip as Hoops & Read surged back. The deficit was trimmed to four points as the game entered the final period, but the visitors then responded with a decisive fourth-quarter surge, outscoring Rivers Hoopers 21-12 to complete a dramatic turnaround.
Hoops & Read drove the comeback by punishing the KingsMen’s ball security issues, turning 21 Rivers Hoopers turnovers into 25 points. Interim head coach Ronald Alalibo placed responsibility on rushed choices and execution.
“We weren’t being committed to some of the things we were supposed to do; our decision-making got hurried, and once that started we began making unforced mistakes,” Alalibo said.
Even with the KingsMen winning the rebounding count 48-44, Rivers Hoopers surrendered a season-high 17 free throws. It was also the first time this season that the KingsMen were outscored by their opponents off the bench, with Hoops & Read taking a 38-23 edge in that department.
“Today’s showing is clearly below the standard,” Alalibo said. “We expected to be better, but we played far beneath our level. We’re disappointed with the defeat; we have to take lessons from it and move forward, making adjustments as we go.”
Guard Johnson Anaiye, who finished with nine points, highlighted the strain of playing four consecutive days of basketball.
“We’ve been on the court for four straight days, so a result like this was always possible,” he said. “But overall we didn’t really defend well, and I think that was one of the reasons we lost.”
Anaiye stressed that the team must raise its defensive intensity ahead of the next assignment.
“We need to intensify our defense in the next game. Winning at the start doesn’t guarantee you’ll win again. We have to come out and play the second match with the same energy we showed in the first—if we do that, we’ll take the rest of the games.”
Team captain Victor Koko led the KingsMen with 13 points and six rebounds. Koko had recorded 18 points against Hoops & Read in Rivers Hoopers’ 84-58 opening-day win. John Idoga was the only other KingsMan to reach double figures with 10 points, while Abel Offia added eight points and seven rebounds. Victor Sunday contributed eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
Rivers Hoopers will take on Comets BC on Gameday Five in Ibadan today. The KingsMen had beaten Comets by 30 points on Gameday Two, though Alalibo cautioned that the earlier result should not breed complacency.
“This match serves as an eye-opener that our team can be beaten,” he said. “We’ll return, talk through the things we did wrong, correct them, and then approach the next game with a confident, positive mindset.”
