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Rivers Hoopers win CDS Basketball Championship

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League, Rivers Hoopers have emerged champions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Day Basketball Championship after their 72-59 win over City Chiefs at the Mo Arena on Sunday. It is the second time in five days the KingsMen have beaten the Titled Men at the CDS Championship in Abuja and the third time in almost a year. Hoopers defeated City Chiefs in the opening game of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League Final four in Port Harcourt last year. Abel Offia, who was awarded the most valuable player, scored a game-high 20 points, shot 2-of-3 three-pointers, and went 6/6 from the free throw line. New Rivers Hoopers recruit Patrick Abah added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. The former City Chiefs forward had 70% field goals, including 2/3 three-pointers in 27 minutes while Buchi Nwaiwu helped defensively shooting 7 points and making 9 rebounds with 3 assists and 2 blocks to go with it Hoopers had taken a 19-10 lead after the first quarter, but a slow start to the second quarter and missed baskets found their lead cut down to 2 at the break. With two minutes left to play, Hoopers took advantage of consecutive turnovers made by Chiefs to score eight points and extend their lead to 13 points. Chiefs had little or no answer as the KingsMen ran the clock down to emerge champions. Next for Rivers Hoopers is to return to Port Harcourt and prepare for the 2024 Nigeria Premier Basketball League Phase one in two weeks time in Benin, Edo State.

Basketball: Rivers Hoopers defeat Kano Pillars, advance to semis

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL), Rivers Hoopers defeated Kano Pillars 59-42 in the quarterfinals of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Basketball Championship in Abuja on Saturday. It was a game that renewed old rivalry between the two teams and the two coaches (Ogoh Odaudu and Scott Nnaji). Although 99% of Kano Pillars’ players who last played against Hoopers in the league had left the team, leaving just Azuoma Dike as the only veteran on the team. The KingsMen, whose last meeting with Pillars was the group stage of the 2022 NPBL Final Eight in Lagos, started the game with a 6-0 run in the first quarter. Hoopers led in all four quarters of the game, and had a slim 31-22 lead at the break. Despite efforts from Pillars to close the gap in the third, the KingsMen outscored Pillars 12-10 to take an 11-point lead into the last quarter.Pillars, who played with a six-man rotation, wore out in the fourth and could barely keep up with the momentum in the last 5 minutes of the game. Rivers Hoopers will play Suleja Hornets in the semis on Saturday evening at 4pm.