Rivers Hoopers basketball club, dominated the 2024 Nigeria Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League to retain the crown won last year, Sports247 reports.
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The five-time champions witnessed their sixth coronation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State following a 71-54 points win over Hoops N’ Read as the final 8 came to an end on Monday before a capacity crowd in Port Harcourt.
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The South South kings led every angle of the game as they took the first quarter, 24-18.
Hoops N’ Read under the oversight of Coach Victor Mensa, trailed Hoopers in every quarter, as they never seemed to get the breakthrough despite all their efforts.
Hoops N’ Read added more pressure on Hoopers in the second quarter reducing the margin by a point as Kelvin Amayo kept Coach Ogoh Daudu’s in the lead, 29-34.
Following a motivational speech by Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Christopher pGreen, Rivers Hoopers, pushed harder in the third quarter.
Hoops N’ Read intensified their efforts to contain Hoopers but to no avail as they carved widening the gap between the ach-rivals to 10 points, bringing the scores to 51-41.
The last quarter was the heartbreaking moment for the outstanding and determined Coach Mensah’s squad as the 2024 BAL bronze medalist sealed the game, 71-54.
Hoops N’ Read took their silver medal with their heads up high as they surpassed last year’s mark, making it known on the national scene.
Hoops N’ Read’s Clinton Best lived up to his name as he was awarded as the best small in Nigeria, in the year, 2024.
Meanwhile, the third place match saw Spartans Basketball Club lost to Gboko City Chiefs by a slim 3 points margin to Gboko City Chiefs.
Spartans started the battle on a poor note, but came back strongly and impressively, striking hard to get the game back in shape.
It was too little, too late as Coach Stanley Dashion Gumut’s men as Gboko City Chiefs held on tight to the lead to pick the third spot.
Rivers Hoopers, who did not taste the bitter pills of defeat throughout the championship also dominated the individual awards.
Rivers Hoopers bagged six prestigious awards with Kelvin Amayo as the Most Valuable Player in the event.
MVP – Kelvin Amayo, Rivers Hoopers
Best rebounder – Buchi Vincent, Rivers Hoopers
Best assist – Okiki Michael, Rivers Hoopers
Best shooter – Timothy Kwaoor, Gboko City Chiefs
TOP FIVE:
Point Guard: Okiki Michael, Rivers Hoopers
Shooting Guard: Kelvin Amayo, Rivers Hoopers
Small Forward: Clinton Best, Hoops N’ Read
Forward: Chingka Garba, Gboko City Chiefs
Center: Buchi Vincent, Rivers Hoopers
