John Idoga struck a corner three with under two seconds left to lift Rivers Hoopers to a 50-47 victory over Athletes 4 Peace in Enugu on Wednesday. The result kept the KingsMen on a flawless run, extending their unbeaten start in the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Phase Two to five straight wins.
With the game knotted and time expiring, Idoga received an inbound pass from Victor Sunday and launched the shot from a tight corner despite intense pressure. His basket denied Athletes 4 Peace a chance to force what would have been the first overtime of the phase at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium indoor court.
Quick facts
- John Idoga’s late corner three sealed Rivers Hoopers’ 50-47 win over Athletes 4 Peace.
- The shot came with less than two seconds remaining after a tied finish.
- Victor Sunday delivered the inbound pass to set up the game-winner.
- Idoga topped scoring with 16 points; Victor Sunday added nine.
- Idoga said he trusted a screen from Buchi Vincent before taking the attempt.
Speaking after the game, Idoga described the moment as high-stakes. “At that point, I knew it was make or break,” he said. “I asked Buchi [Vincent] to set a screen for me to take the risk, and he did. I took the shot, and it went in.”
Idoga finished with 16 points to lead all scorers, while Sunday contributed nine. Together, the duo accounted for half of Rivers Hoopers’ total output.
The contest turned tense and physical in the third quarter. Athletes 4 Peace saw one player sent off after a technical followed by an unsportsmanlike foul, while Rivers Hoopers were also charged with a technical.
Even after falling behind by 12, Athletes 4 Peace surged in the fourth quarter, outscoring the KingsMen 16-4 to level the game and set the stage for the late finish. That comeback put the pressure squarely on the final possession, where Idoga delivered the decisive shot.
Interim head coach Ronald Alalibo acknowledged the win but was unsparing in his critique of the performance. “They looked down on their opponents, like they’d already won the game even before stepping on the floor,” Alalibo said. “We weren’t being smart, kept turning the ball over. The players believed it would be a walk in the park, but the opponents came out to play.”
Idoga said fatigue played a part in Rivers Hoopers’ uneven rhythm, though he insisted the team would respond quickly. “I wasn’t moving properly today due to fatigue,” he said. “But we’re coming all out tomorrow — the players have already spoken amongst ourselves about how well we need to play.”
Rivers Hoopers now turn to Thursday’s matchup against defending champions Maktown Flyers in a rematch of the 2025 NPBL finals. The Flyers edged that final by two points, and they too remain unbeaten in Phase Two.
Alalibo expects the next game to demand greater focus. “I believe they’ll learn from their mistakes,” he said. “We’ll go back to the drawing board and correct those mistakes, knowing that Maktown Flyers are more experienced, more deliberate, and more disciplined than the other teams we’ve played so far.”
