Lagos State Basketball side Hoops N’ Read on Thursday started their Nigeria Basketball Federation, (NBBF), Men’s Premier League Final 8 campaign on a good footing with an exciting comeback.
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Hoops N’ Read under the stewardship of Coach Victor Mensah came from behind to record their first win in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, over Kano Pillars 73-66.
Hoops N’ Read fail to live up to expectations in the opening 10 minutes as Kano Pillars snatched the first quarter due to woeful defensive lapses and poor connections by Hoops N’ Read to make the scores, 15-19.
Following some intensive discussion among the coaches and players the slammers from the Center of Excellence, gave the Kano Warriors a taste of their own medicine.
The second was the decisive moment for Hoops N’ Read as they turned the tables with Ademola Kareem leading the rout to create a five points margin at half time, 40-35.
Hoops N’ Read, kept the fire ablaze in third quarter with the men from the Centre of Commerce, calculating every play to win the game but to no avail as they kept given out balls.
Hoops N’ Read latched on Kano Pillars clumsiness to steal five times in a row, leaving Head Coach, Scott Nnaji frustrated.
Hoops N’ Read made very little use of the steals and rebounds as the basketball seemed to constantly elude them bringing the figures to 52-47.
Hoops N’ Read proudly sponsored by Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation added two points to the margin in the final quarter leaving the basketball lovers from Kano State, exhausted in a game that could have gone either way.
Coach Scott Nnaji while briefing the press after the unpredictable battle stated that his side had the win on a platter of gold but failed to take it when they could.
He pointed out that despite having the ball on numerous occasions his side failed to convert it on several times.
He also noted that his side also failed to beat Hoops N’ Read because two of his players were not allowed to play as they were not cleared from FIBA, the body governing basketball in the world.
He added that his side will come on Match Day 2 with lessons put into action.
Victor Mensah, Head Coach of Hoops N’ Read on the other was not delighted with the win stating that his team can do better and that their next match against Police Baton will be better.
He explained that although he team recorded many steals they didn’t use it to their advantage.
He further explained that his coaching crew will address the issue properly to prohibit any future of occurrence of such woeful display.
Against Police Baton, Coach Mensah stated that his men will not handle them with kid-gloves but will come all out against them, a side they knocked out in the Atlantic Conference.
Hoops N’ Read are currently second on the Group A table to Gboko City Chiefs, who won their game to Police Baton 82-50.
Kano Pillars are third in the standings with Police Baton, rock bottom of the Group.
Nile University defeated 2022 champions Kwara Falcons 62-45 while the defending champions Rivers Hoopers smashed Gombe Bulls 87-56.
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