Rivers Hoopers turned a suffocating defensive display into a decisive dismantling of Comets Basketball Club, winning 80-— and making it back-to-back triumphs in the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL).
Quick facts
- Match: Rivers Hoopers vs Comets Basketball Club
- Result: Rivers Hoopers won 80- (exact opponent score not provided)
- Competition: 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL)
- Conference phase: Atlantic Conference group stage
- Context: Hoopers extended a perfect start with consecutive victories
The KingsMen, who led 43-33 at halftime, then unleashed a 30-point surge in the second half. Their pressure shut down Comets’ attack, holding the visitors to only 17 points across the final two quarters to complete a runaway finish.
Rivers Hoopers’ control was built on creating mistakes. They forced 27 turnovers and converted those disruptions into 32 points, a key factor in sustaining their unbeaten run in the Atlantic Conference group phase.
From the free-throw line, the KingsMen were equally sharp. They hit 76.5% of their attempts, going 13-of-17, a performance that delighted interim head coach Ronald Alalibo.
“Like I said after our previous game, we are taking it one step at a time,” Alalibo said. “We saw the errors we made in the previous game, so we took our time to make corrections and applied them in today’s game.”
Depth, bench impact and defensive focus
Alalibo leaned on his rotation throughout the contest, with every member of the matchday roster seeing at least 16 minutes on the floor. The bench delivered 37 points, accounting for 46.25% of the team’s total, underlining how complete the team performance was.
Despite the contributions across the lineup, the interim coach was most encouraged by what he saw defensively. He stressed that scoring can vary, but stopping opponents is what ultimately shapes championship-level runs.
“Defense, they say, wins championships. If you’re not scoring, you should at least be able to stop your opponents from scoring,” Alalibo said. “Yesterday we had some defensive lapses; we made some adjustments, and everybody came out to play [today].”
Duro-Ladipo Olatoye provided a spark off the bench, finishing with eight points while shooting 100% from inside the arc. He also credited the team’s ability to carry momentum forward from the previous outing.
“We did a very good job of building momentum from yesterday, and that was the plan coming into the game [today]. So, it’s a good win for us,” Olatoye said.
Olatoye, who spent the 2018/19 season with Comets, reiterated the importance of defensive discipline. “We always emphasize defense, knowing that every team can score,” he added. “We just have to make sure we limit them to one offensive possession. Facing my former team, I already knew their system and go-to plays, and [I’m glad] I was able to execute today.”
On the scoring front, Abel Offia and Chinedu Nwaogu led all players with 16 points apiece. Victor Koko—captain for the night—worked the interior for 10 points and added 6 rebounds.
Looking ahead to Raptors
Even with the convincing opening results, Alalibo insisted the team is not getting ahead of itself. His focus remains on keeping the defensive intensity high while preparing for the next challenge in the group phase.
“Our plan is to maintain or increase our intensity on defense, while remaining aware that [Raptors] have good players. If we give them the opportunity to express themselves, they might become a thorn in our side. We will try as much as possible to limit them to give ourselves the best advantage,” he said.
Rivers Hoopers are set to play Raptors Basketball Club on Gameday 3 of the Atlantic Conference group phase today, May 19.
