To get to the final, The Kingsmen finished top of their group and had a straight victory in the semifinal before filling out against another impressive side of the campaign, Read & Hoops, and it would have gone either way throughout the four quarters.
Browsing: Rivers Hoopers
Fubara said this at a grand reception for the team held at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The KingsMen had initially set targets to make the playoffs, but went on to finish as Sahara Conference champions with a 4-2 record.
The two teams played against each other twice in the Sahara Conference held last week in Dakar with each winning one of the ties.
Hoopers fielded a much changed starting five from their previous games as Coach Ogoh Odaudu handed Abel Offia and Johnson Anaiye their first starts in Dakar, alongside BAL Elevate player David Ike, Devine Eke and John Wilkins.
After much-needed rest on Monday, Rivers Hoopers, who had been impressive by notching up consecutive victories over Senegal’s
The KingsMen came into the game with a 1-2 (win-lose) record from their previous appearance at the inaugural edition of the BAL.
The five-time Nigerian Basketball League Champions have been drawn in a tough Sahara Conference of the BAL.
The Nigerian six-foot-nine center recently played for RM Valcea in Romania.
He was outstanding when he made his national team debut at the Afrobasket qualifiers held in Tunisia two months ago.
Wilkins, who is the son of former NBA player Jeff Wilkins, linked up with his Hoopers teammates at the team’s training camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He arrived in Nigeria on Sunday, 7th April, 2024, two days before the club’s final training camp, which began on Monday, 9th April, 2024.
Three players finished in double figures for Hoopers: Mustapha Oyebanji had 15 points, including four 3s, Abel Offia added 14, while Michael Oriakhi scored 13.
Fubara said this at a grand reception for the team held at the State Executive chamber in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Consequently, the KingsMen picked the ticket as Nigeria’s sole representative at the 2024 edition of the Basketball Africa League.
Having suffered a narrow loss to Rivers Hoopers in their first game, the Chiefs came into the encounter needing nothing short of victory, and duly delivered.
The KingsMen started out of the blocks in the first quarter with complete dominance to lead the Chiefs 20-6 much to the delight of a raucous home crowd.
Abel Offia shot 10 points, including back to back three-pointers, in the fourth quarter of the highly exciting game.
Prior to the game, the KingsMen had one foot in the Final Four, but needed a win to guarantee their place.
This followed their victory at the second edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship in Lagos.