Rivers Hoopers maintained their winning streak in the league this season with an 87-56 win over Gombe Bulls on Day one of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Eight in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Hoopers led from start to finish and gave no chance to Gombe Bulls, who also had to deal with fatigue after arriving on Thursday morning for the event.
Kelvin Amayo led three other scorers in double figures: Amayo had 18 points, Patrick Abah added 16 points, Ifeanyi Koko added 11 points, and Abel Offia had 10 points.
Amayo added 5 assists and steals, while Abah was one rebound short of a double-double with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, including 2 threes in the game.
Hoopers shot to a 9-6 lead early in the game and stretched it to an 11-point lead at halftime (40-29).
The KingsMen got back at halftime with better intensity as they left Gombe Bulls with no choice but to settle for a defeat in front of the Hoopers raucous home crowd.
Former league champion, Celestine Nwafor is the only player who finished in double figures for Gombe Bulls with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The KingsMen outrebounded Gombe 59-39, shot eight three-pointers in the game, and forced Gombe to commit 29 turnovers in the game.
Despite the victory, head coach Ogoh Odaudu expected a better approach to the game from his team.
”First game for us I don’t think we played the best game. It was scrappy, but this is the essence of the group stage; you get better as the tournament progresses. I am sure we will have better games ahead.”
In the same vein, Kelvin Amayo, who rejoined the KingsMen for the Final Eight, was grateful to return to the team.
”I appreciate the management and the coach for bringing me back and seeing the likes of Peter and Victor Koko. I appreciate, and I am happy Peter came back as well.”
“I also appreciate the fans coming out to support us the best way they can. Though it was a scrappy game, we will get better as the game progresses. I am just so happy to be here.”
Rivers Hoopers will be back on the court to play Kwara Falcons on Friday at 6pm.
In other games decided yesterday, Gboko City Chiefs defeated Police Batons by 82-50 points,
Nile University outscored Kwara Falcons by 62-45 points, while Kano Pillars lost to
Hoops and Read 66 -73 points.
Today’s Games
Gombe Bulls v Nile University 12pm
Police Batons v Hoops and Read 2pm
Gboko City Chiefs v Kano Pillars 4pm
Kwara Falcons v Rivers Hoopers 6pm
Hoopers in blowout win over Gombe Bulls
Rivers Hoopers maintained their winning streak in the league this season with an 87-56 win over Gombe Bulls on Day one of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Eight in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Hoopers led from start to finish and gave no chance to Gombe Bulls, who also had to deal with fatigue after arriving on Thursday morning for the event.
Kelvin Amayo led three other scorers in double figures: Amayo had 18 points, Patrick Abah added 16 points, Ifeanyi Koko added 11 points, and Abel Offia had 10 points.
Amayo added 5 assists and steals, while Abah was one rebound short of a double-double with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, including 2 threes in the game.
Hoopers shot to a 9-6 lead early in the game and stretched it to an 11-point lead at halftime (40-29).
The KingsMen got back at halftime with better intensity as they left Gombe Bulls with no choice but to settle for a defeat in front of the Hoopers raucous home crowd.
Former league champion, Celestine Nwafor is the only player who finished in double figures for Gombe Bulls with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The KingsMen outrebounded Gombe 59-39, shot eight three-pointers in the game, and forced Gombe to commit 29 turnovers in the game.
Despite the victory, head coach Ogoh Odaudu expected a better approach to the game from his team.
”First game for us I don’t think we played the best game. It was scrappy, but this is the essence of the group stage; you get better as the tournament progresses. I am sure we will have better games ahead.”
In the same vein, Kelvin Amayo, who rejoined the KingsMen for the Final Eight, was grateful to return to the team.
”I appreciate the management and the coach for bringing me back and seeing the likes of Peter and Victor Koko. I appreciate, and I am happy Peter came back as well.”
“I also appreciate the fans coming out to support us the best way they can. Though it was a scrappy game, we will get better as the game progresses. I am just so happy to be here.”
Rivers Hoopers will be back on the court to play Kwara Falcons on Friday at 6pm.
In other games decided yesterday, Gboko City Chiefs defeated Police Batons by 82-50 points,
Nile University outscored Kwara Falcons by 62-45 points, while Kano Pillars lost to
Hoops and Read 66 -73 points.
Today’s Games
Gombe Bulls v Nile University 12pm
Police Batons v Hoops and Read 2pm
Gboko City Chiefs v Kano Pillars 4pm
Kwara Falcons v Rivers Hoopers 6pm
