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
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.
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.
Port Harcourt based basketball team, Rivers Hoopers started their home series this season with an 85-57 victory over their Southern opponents, Delta Force in a week 3 game of the 2016 DSTV Basketball League.
In what was a blistering start to the Match day 3 game decided at 59, Niger Street, Port Harcourt, the former champions routed their visitors 29-6 to set up a commanding lead in the first quarter.
Hoopers shooting guard, Ronald Alalibo continued from where he left off in Lagos scoring three straights 3 pointers out of his 6 shots in the first quarter and had a total of 14 points in the entire game.
The home side continued their impressive start in the second quarter adding more 15points and keeping their lead intact into the break with a 41-21 over the team from Asaba.
All was balanced between both sides defensively as Hoopers could only score a total of 13 points in the 3rd quarter with Victor Dakoru guilty of missing three of his 3pointer-attempts.
The first five minutes of the 3rd quarter was quite worrisome for the Port Harcourt side who could only get a lone shot. With four mins left in the 3rd quarter however, Hoopers point guard Victor Atisele brought life into the game as well as Belema Alamina making his 3 pointer count and scoring a game high 16 points.
Others who got double points in the game are, Ronald Alalibo (14), Victor Atisele(12) and Victor Dakoru (11).
Points amassed in the last quarter was even between the two sides as both side scored 30 points each but it was not enough for the visitors to get back into the game.
Ogoh Odaudu Rivers Hoopers Basketball Team Coach,
After the game, Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu wished his team had done better despite the convincing victory over Delta Force.
“I think we did well in defense but offensively we didn’t do too well. We are going to talk about it and come out blazing. I am not satisfied but I am okay with what happened today.” said Odaudu.
On his own part, Delta Force coach Rodrick Peter remains confident his team will bounce back on Saturday.
“Hoopers really played well and they had the ball coordination. They moved the ball fast and catching my team off defense. I think fatigue took a toll on my players and now that they are a bit relaxed, tomorrow’s game will surely be better for us.” Peter explained.
Hoopers will play against the Forces from Delta again at the same venue, 59 Niger Street on Saturday (today) in what will be their 4th match of the season.
The Hoopers presently have a 2 wins, one loss record.
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