Context: Hoopers extended a perfect start with consecutive victories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe KingsMen, who led 43-33 at halftime, then unleashed a 30-point surge in the second half. Their pressure shut down Comets\u2019 attack, holding the visitors to only 17 points across the final two quarters to complete a runaway finish.<\/p>\n
Rivers Hoopers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike I said after our previous game, we are taking it one step at a time,\u201d Alalibo said. \u201cWe saw the errors we made in the previous game, so we took our time to make corrections and applied them in today\u2019s game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Depth, bench impact and defensive focus<\/h3>\n
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\u2019s total, underlining how complete the team performance was.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefense, they say, wins championships. If you\u2019re not scoring, you should at least be able to stop your opponents from scoring,\u201d Alalibo said. \u201cYesterday we had some defensive lapses; we made some adjustments, and everybody came out to play [today].\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s ability to carry momentum forward from the previous outing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did a very good job of building momentum from yesterday, and that was the plan coming into the game [today]. So, it\u2019s a good win for us,\u201d Olatoye said.<\/p>\n
Olatoye, who spent the 2018\/19 season with Comets, reiterated the importance of defensive discipline. \u201cWe always emphasize defense, knowing that every team can score,\u201d he added. \u201cWe 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\u2019m glad] I was able to execute today.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the scoring front, Abel Offia and Chinedu Nwaogu led all players with 16 points apiece. Victor Koko\u2014captain for the night\u2014worked the interior for 10 points and added 6 rebounds.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to Raptors<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rivers Hoopers are set to play Raptors Basketball Club on Gameday 3 of the Atlantic Conference group phase today, May 19.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rivers Hoopers turned a suffocating defensive display into a decisive dismantling of Comets Basketball Club, winning 80-\u2014 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Rivers Hoopers vs Comets: NPBL Season Opener Win","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Rivers Hoopers shut down Comets in the NPBL season opener, cruising to an 80-point win and extending their perfect start with back","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
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