Rivers Hoopers Outclass Delta Force In Last Atlantic Conference Playoff Game

*The Rivers state team finished 2nd, proceeds to national playoffs.

Rivers Hoopers rounded up their Atlantic Conference Play-off campaign by spanking Delta Force 67-55 on Saturday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Victor James scored 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals while Oba Orinari added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists en route a comfortable victory over the already eliminated Delta Force.

It indeed was a high flying performance from Orinari in the first quarter as he contributed half of the team’s opening quarter score which eventually ended (16-20) in favour of the Hoopers. The second was quite similar as the Port Harcourt side could only score 12 points in total while heading to half time with a four point lead (28-24).

Rivers Hoopers

A James double early in the third extended Hoopers’ lead in combination with a 3 pointer from Alalibo his first and only in the entire game (1/7). It was however a challenging last quarter offensively for Hoopers who failed to score in about 7 minutes and found it hard to cope with Force three point shots 9-0.

With two minutes left on the clock, Orinari’s power drive launched a layup which later led the way for more shots and powerful dunks from Somto Managor and Ronald Alalibo.

The game was tied in four different times in all the quarters of the game (2-2, 18-18, 48-48 and 53-53).

After the game, Hoopers captain Ngowari Bobmanuel revealed that his team is ready to challenge for a podium finish after a remarkable return to the DSTV Basketball League.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, one that I will never forget and will always cherish. We will take a shot at the final eight and see how it goes from there, “said Ngowari.

The Centre who took over the captain’s arm band from Ikashi Ochomma at the beginning of the season, said faith and hard work saw them through the 2015/2016 campaign.

“I felt a little discouraged because we put a lot in training and we couldn’t see the outcome of it but I kept on believing that the harder we work, the more things would definitely turn around for us.” Ngowari explained.

Meanwhile, Delta Force coach, Brodrick Peter is not discouraged his team failed to meet their target this season. Delta Force lost all four games and Peter has attributed their elimination from the finals to poor funding of the team.

“I am not discouraged because finance in sports is very vital. The players are very young and need a lot of support which they didn’t get. I believe lack of finance prevented them from giving their best.” Said Peter.

Rivers Hoopers In action in DSTV Basketball League

FULL RESULT FROM THE ATLANTIC PLAY OFFS

Day 1 Tuesday 7/6/16.

Oluyole Warriors 53- 65 Kwara Falcons.

Customs 71- 68 Rivers Hoopers.

‪‎Day 2 Wednesday 8/6/16.

Oluyole Warriors 42- 67 Rivers Hoopers.

Delta Force 50 – 75 Customs.

‪‎Day 3 Thursday 9/06/16.

Rivers Hoopers 64- 61 Kwara Falcons.

Delta Force. 62 – 69. Oluyole Warriors.

‪Day 4 Friday 10/06/16.

Kwara Falcons 105 – 58 Delta Force.

Customs 76 – 55 Oluyole Warriors.

‪Day 5 Saturday 11/06/16.

Rivers Hoopers 67- 55 Delta Force.

Kwara Falcons 79- 60 Customs.

By the result, Rivers Hoopers have confirmed their position as the 2nd best team in the Atlantic Conference, finishing behind Kwara Falcons who they defeated on Friday. Both Hoopers and the Falcons will join Nigeria Customs and Oluyole Warriors as Atlantic Conference representatives in the Finals of the DSTV Basketball League 2015/2016 season.

The quartet will challenge the teams from the Savannah Conference: Kano Pillars, Plateau Peaks, Gombe Bulls and Niger Potters for the title between June 20-25 at a yet-to-be decided venue.

Rivers Hoopers Pay Visit To Orphanage In Port Harcourt

DSTV Basketball League side, Rivers Hoopers on Saturday visited the Mother Theresa Orphanage Home in Borokiri, Port Harcourt where they showered the children with gifts and valuable.

Rivers Hoopers Pay Visit To Orphanage In Port Harcourt

The visit, according to the team was to appreciate God for the club’s return to the elite division of Basketball in the country in which they have enjoyed a decent return to the top flight.

The former league Champions also hope the visit will give them the good luck needed to post a credible outing at the season-ending playoffs which kicks off from Tuesday June the 7th to Saturday the 11th.

Players and officials of the team were all present and were well received by principals of the orphanage.

It is a regular tradition that the team visits the Motherless Babies home every season.

DSTV Basketball league 2015/2016: We Have Achieved A Lot Say Rivers Hoopers Coach Odaudu

Despite a modest third place finish in the DSTV Basketball League Atlantic Conference, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu believes his side have overachieved in their return to the top flight of Nigerian Basketball.

The former League champions gained promotion to the DSTV Basketball league in December after missing out of the 2014/2015 season and Odaudu is proud of his team.

“Coming out of relegation and not playing for one season, I can say we have achieved a lot. Many teams in our position would have been battling relegation but we have not done that rather we have done a lot better than we are supposed to do,” Odaudu posited.

“It is a fresh team and most of them are playing with themselves for the first time but the chemistry is gradually building and you will see a different team at the play offs.”

The Port Harcourt side dominated Nigeria basketball league two seasons in a row winning the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 title but ended the 2015/2016 regular season in a third place finish. The ex-international explains the difference between the Hoopers of old and now.

“Like the Hoopers of before, we practice months before every competition”.

Ogoh Odaudu Rivers Hoopers Basketball Team Coach,

“We commenced training two weeks before the season started and we started building ourselves gradually during the course of the season.

“We don’t have the calibre of players we had before and that’s because we didn’t recruit early which will change next season.” Odaudu concluded.

Rivers Hoopers will compete with the other four teams in the Atlantic conference from Monday June 6-11 for a spot in the last four playoff.

DSTV Basketball League: Rivers Hoopers Defeat Kwara Falcons In Ilorin

*In-form Managor spearheads Hoopers’ rebound, beat Kwara Falcons in Ilorin.

*Hoopers Inflict first home loss on their hosts.

Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club on Saturday evening put an end to Kwara Falcons’ winning streak on home court by inflicting a 58-60 points defeat on the Atlantic Conference leaders at the Kwara State Sports Complex in Ilorin.

Somtochukwu Managor continued his rich vein of form as he made 16 points and 5 rebounds. Idikiebuma Ogan had 14 points and 5 rebounds while Ronald Alalibo added 13 points and 3 rebounds.

Hoopers got off to a good start in the opening quarter with 10-0 lead but were made to work hard to maintain the lead going into the second quarter (11-15).

The Port Harcourt side however re-strategized at half time, taking full charge of the third quarter by dominating play both in defence and offence scoring a total of 19 points but still headed into the final quarter with a point deficit to the Falcons.

The fourth quarter was one to remember with many pulsating moments from the two opposing ends as scores were even with less than 5 minutes on the clock (49-49). The quarter also recorded a super dunk by Managor which was followed up after an offensive rebound. The contest was effectively decided in a devastating period of Hoopers dominance which began late in the quarter with Alalibo’s brilliant contribution with two mins left on the clock making sure Hoopers recovered from Friday’s loss and condemn their hosts to only their second defeat of the campaign in the final match of the regular season with Rivers Hoopers responsible for both Falcons reversals, one apiece at home and away.

Atlantic Conference finals kicks off from June 6-11, while final 8 play offs will be played from 20-25 June . All 5 teams from the Conference will head to the play offs for a place in the last four.

DSTV BASKETBALL LEAGUE: HOOPERS GAFFER TARGETS FALCONS SCALP…

…Team already in the pot for post-season playoffs

Head Coach of Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club of Port Harcourt, Ogoh Odaudu is confident his team can end Kwara Falcons’ 100% run on home court when they take to the court against the Kwara side this weekend.

Riding on the wave of four consecutive victories in the league, two-time Champions of the Nigerian Basketball League Rivers Hoopers will travel to face the Adewunmi Aderemi-led side in Ilorin in what will be their last game of the regular season.

Earlier this season, Hoopers became the first team to inflict the first defeat of the season on Falcons during both teams’ encounter in Port Harcourt taking Game one of the Week 5 games by 61-58 points while the Ilorin based side returned in Game 2 to win 65-75.

Odaudu believes his team always have a brilliant game on the road and this weekend won’t be any way different.

“I think the best games we have played so far are away from home and I am hoping we will have another fantastic outing,” said Odaudu.

Ogoh Odaudu Rivers Hoopers Basketball Team Coach,

“Our ambition is to go to Kwara and split the game one-one, but if we can pick two, then great.”

Game one will be on Friday with both teams taking to the court of the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara State Sports Complex 24 hours later. Both Kwara Falcons and Rivers Hoopers, first and third in the Atlantic Conference have already confirmed their spots in the post-season playoffs

DSTV Basketball League: Rivers Hoopers Do Double Over Delta Force

Shooting guards Ronald Alalibo and Victor Dakoru scored 11 points apiece to propel Rivers Hoopers to a 61-65 points victory over Delta Force in Asaba on Saturday, recording their first back-to-back victory of the campaign.

Alalibo added 3 rebounds and scoring 3 out of his five 3–pointer attempts while Dakoru made 1 rebound and scored 3 of his own three 3-pointer attempts in the game.

Ogan Idikibiebuma added 10 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist while Oba Tonye could not replicate his Friday performance, managing a total of 4 points but duly compensated by recording the highest rebound in the game with a total of 12 and 2 assists making sure the Port Harcourt side kept the momentum in Asaba.

Unlike Friday’s game, the hosts came out smoking in the first quarter running down their visitors on many occasions to edge it 19-16 but it was turned around in the second as the Port Harcourt side took a 2 point lead at half time after adding a total of 18 shots (34-36).

Inspite of the offensive threats posed by the Asaba team, the former league champions were able to replicate Friday’s performance in the third quarter adding a further 20 points to their tally.

It was however a tense final quarter as Delta Force tried to deny Hoopers on the offence for about 3 minutes into the fourth quarter but the visitors turned that around to run away as winners of the encounter.

Rivers Hoopers will be on standby next weekend and will next face Oyo State side, Oluyole Warriors in Port Harcourt on the weekend of May the 20th in what will be the team’s last home game of the regular season.

Ogoh Odaudu: Rivers Hoopers Will Defeat Oluyole At Home

Rivers Hoopers head coach, Ogoh Odaudu has pledged that the team will make up for the game they lost to Delta Force when they travel to take on Oluyole Warriors on Friday.

The Port Harcourt side had won the first game by 20 points and was hoping to build on the victory against the Asaba side on Saturday but failed to do so losing 65-71 on home court.

Speaking ahead of the tie in Ibadan, the ex-international says they are ready to right their wrongs from this weekend.

“First of all it’s our duty to make sure our fans are happy, we are not happy that we lost that second game too. So what we are going to do is, we are going to go to Oluyole and try and make amends. We are going to go with a full Squad, the strongest 12 players that we can pick and we are going to go there and make amends. We want to go there and pick those two games and come back to tell our fans that yes what happened was just a mistake; it is not going to happen again, “Odaudu promised.

Ogoh Odaudu Rivers Hoopers Basketball Team Coach,

On how much information he has gathered about his opponent, the Benue born coach disclosed what he came up with.

“We have not played them in a very long while, but I managed to do some scouting on them, I used some people who they had played with and some other coaches who have watched them play, “Odaudu explained.

In four games, Hoopers have played all at 4pm in Lagos and in Port Harcourt which the former Islanders coach believes won’t be a setback for his team when they play at 2pm in Ibadan.

Rivers Hoopers will play against Oluyole Warriors who have won two games from their six games played this season.

Rivers Hoopers In Shock Loss To Delta Force

Rivers Hoopers on Saturday lost their second game of the DSTV Basketball League season by 65-71 at home to Delta Force in Port Harcourt.

Following their impressive win over their visitors on Friday, the Port Harcourt side were confident of another win on home court but were shocked by a brilliant defensive display by their opponent from Asaba.

It took some brilliance of the former champions to break down the defense of Delta Force as Hoopers led 14-8 in the first quarter but the second quarter was a cagey affair as Delta Force levelled the points 19-19 before opening up a 29-37 points lead against their hosts at half time.

Things went down the hill for Hoopers in the 3rd quarter as the team managed just 14 points which came mostly from free throws. Disappointingly, only 15 of the 33 free throws won in the entire game, got into the basket.

As expected, Hoopers Shooting guard Ronald Alalibo again proved his worth scoring two three-pointers en route a game high 18 points. Former Delta Force power forward, Somtochukwu Managor (11) and Hoopers point guard, Victor James (12) were the only Hoopers players who got double digits in the game.

The final quarter was a tensed game for Hoopers who fought hard to get back into the game but were made to do catch up all through by the resilient Delta side managing an additional 22points.

Ogoh Odaudu Rivers Hoopers Basketball Team Coach,

After the game, Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu blamed the loss on complacency on the part of the players and management.

When asked why he felt his team lost to a team they overwhelmed 24 hours earlier, he sharply responded.

“One word, over confidence that’s just the basic line. We came and beat them silly by 28 points. They felt that we would come back and do the same thing but they failed to realise that basketball is played on the court and not on paper.”

Odaudu also made reference to one of their first two games in Lagos.

“I took them back to our first game in Lagos were the Custom team beat us in the first game and we came back and beat them by 14 points in the second game and I told them immediately that game ended yesterday, that because we beat them(Delta Force) with over 20points doesn’t mean we are coming back to beat them today. Go back home, rest, think about the game today and come out and play today but I think what I said fell on deaf ears, “said Odaudu.

The former Lagos Islanders coach believes the management of the team should take large part of the blame.

“Also on the part of management, we had our short comings. We didn’t organize the team enough like we should have done. Most of the blame should go on the management we should have handled the situation better. “Odaudu concluded.

Delta Force coach, Rodrick Peter expressed his delight to pick his first win away from home this season.

“An away win for any team is a big win am very happy and I know this is just the beginning we will pick more away games. The boys really made me proud they listened to instruction today unlike yesterday they were just playing to their own self but we did well we took one out of two the two games, “Peter said.

Ronald Alalibo

Peter disclosed his tactical input into the game which gave him the win over Hoopers.

“I only told my boys to play more on aggressive defense which we didn’t so yesterday most of their point came from the inside yesterday and from the 3 point line so we had to cut out the shots and force them to put the ball on the floor to penetrate and choke them.”

Hoopers will next play against Oluyole Warriors in Ibadan on Friday April 8 and Saturday 9 while Delta Force will be on the road to unbeaten Kwara Falcons.‎