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CDS tourney: Rivers Hoopers advance to quarterfinals

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Rivers Hoopers have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Basketball Championship after they defeated Bauchi Nets 55-50 at the Mo Arena on Thursday. The Ogoh Odaudu-led team started the game with consecutive three-pointers to end the first quarter with a one-point lead, 13-12. The second quarter was a low-scoring game for the two teams who failed to score, but it was Hoopers who took a three-point lead (22-19) to the break. Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu was disappointed in his team, who played with less aggression against Nets. Asked about how he felt about the two wins against City Chiefs and Bauchi Nets, Odaudu said, “We played terribly in both games, but it was expected we have not played competitive basketball since we finished for the Basketball Africa League, so I didn’t expect anything less. We will keep working, getting better, and pushing hard. The KingsMen were down by five with two minutes left to play but crawled their way back at crunch time to seal their spot in the quarterfinals. ”It’s a great tournament, and we are using it to test ourselves and how far we can go. It is a good practice session for us ahead of the league later this month. Odaudu made comparisons between their two opening games played on Wednesday and Thursday (today). ”We didn’t play very well; yesterday’s game was more experienced than the team we played today. It was a lack of aggression on our part that happened today.” The Hoopers boss said he has two targets for the CDS tournament and hopes to accomplish both. ”Our goal is to see how our team is and to win the prize money attached to the tournament. It will be good to kill two birds with one stone.Test our team, get prepared for the league, and win the prize money, but every team comes with the intent of winning, and ours is a podium finish. The KingsMen will play their last group game against Gilali on Friday.

Basketball: Rivers Hoopers dig deep to defeat Gboko City Chiefs

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Rivers Hoopers beat Gboko City Chiefs 51-46 in their opening game of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Basketball Championship at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Wednesday. It was not the best of games for the KingsMen, who were playing their first competitive game after the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in May. They turned over the ball multiple times and gave out too many possessions to their opponents from Gboko. The titled men held a four-point lead for most part of the game, leaving Hoopers to chase the game too. With a four-point deficit (36-40) into the fourth quarter, the KingsMen were left with no choice but to control the game if they wanted a different outcome. Hoopers, who tied the game 44-44 with 1:37 minutes remaining, outscored the Chiefs 7-2 from the line to pick up their first win of the competition against the determined City Chiefs.

Rivers Hoopers arrive in Abuja for CDS Basketball Championship

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Rivers Hoopers are in Abuja to participate in the Chief of Defence Staff Independence Basketball Championship. Hoopers have been drawn in Group C alongside Gboko City Chiefs, Gilali, and Bauchi Nets. The 16-team tournament will hold from Wednesday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 6th. Top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals, while the winners of the two semifinals will slug it out in the final on Sunday. The competition will serve as a preseason tournament ahead of the first phase of the 2024 Nigeria Premier Basketball League scheduled for this month in Benin. Rivers Hoopers will play their first game against Gboko City Chiefs on Wednesday.