Rivers Hoopers kept their flawless run going in Nigeria’s Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Phase Two on Monday, beating Hoops & Read 68-52 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to notch a third consecutive win.
Coming off a demanding victory against tournament hosts Coal City Blazers, the six-time national champions started with purpose, striking for a 9-2 advantage within the opening four minutes. They sustained that control to close the first quarter 17-11 up.
John Idoga carried much of the scoring burden for Rivers Hoopers, tallying 21 points in total and producing 13 of them in the opening half. He then capped a strong second-quarter spell with a three-pointer at the buzzer, helping the Hoopers stretch their lead to 37-27 at halftime.
After the break, Rivers Hoopers pushed the tempo and widened the gap further. Samuel Sani finished a powerful dunk following a behind-the-back setup from Victor Sunday, as part of a 12-2 surge that took the advantage to 20 points with the third quarter at its midpoint.
Hoops & Read attempted to claw back late, trimming the margin to nine points in the final period. Rivers Hoopers then sealed the contest with a decisive 7-0 finish to secure the win—giving them a third straight result in Phase Two and their second victory over Hoops & Read in three meetings this season.
Idoga was one of four Hoopers players to reach double figures. Abel Offia added 12 points, while Sunday and Sani contributed 10 apiece. Rivers Hoopers also swept all four quarters, underscoring their consistency throughout the game.
Reaction and next steps
Interim head coach Ronald Alalibo welcomed the team’s upward momentum but stressed that further improvement is needed, particularly with a packed schedule. He said the side is getting closer to its best form and that on-court understanding is steadily improving, while still pointing to areas that require work.
Alalibo also highlighted the physical strain of playing back-to-back games without enough recovery time. He acknowledged that some players looked heavy at stages, but insisted the team had to press through because the schedule offers limited opportunity to rest.
Hoopers vice-captain Buchi Vincent echoed the same theme, noting that opponents are aware of their previous match and will likely bring more physicality. He added that the stakes feel high right now, with soreness affecting him and his teammates, but promised they would regroup and prepare for the next fixture.
Rivers Hoopers will now turn their attention to a match against Kwara Falcons later today. Alalibo indicated that the coaching staff will manage rotations carefully to reduce the risk of exhaustion, with instructions for players to rest properly and hydrate so the team can maintain its intensity in the next game.
