Rivers Hoopers basketball team on Tuesday emerged winners of the 2021 Super Eight men’s Basketball Premier League.

In the final match played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Rivers Hoopers defeated Gombe Bulls 74- 57 to lift the trophy.

Gombe Bulls took the lead in the first quarter by 22-14 but failed to keep the momentum as Rivers Hoopers fought back to take the lead in the last three-quarters of the game.

Rivers Hoopers led 20-9 in the second quarter 20-9 and continued the fight by taking the third quarter by 23-12.
The team won the last quarter by one point at 15-14 to make the final score 74-57.

Rivers Hoopers had the biggest lead of 25 points, while Gombe Bulls had 10.

Speaking to journalists after the match, Rivers Hoopers’ coach, Ogoh Odaudu, said he was glad that the team won the premier league.

“It was a game well planned, I needed to yarn to the boys, and they ajusted, and we ended winning the game,” he said.

He commended Governor Nyesom Wike for supporting the team.

“We want to give kudos to the executive governor of Rivers State, the commissioner for sports and the permanent secretary for their encouragement and for believing in us. We will go back home with the trophy, and we will thank them for their faith in us,” he said.

Mr Odaudu added that their target as a team was to participate in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

“We have been to the BAL before, and we were not prepared, but now we are going there no more as a novice. We need to fortify our team and put on some wonderful performance compared to our previous participation,” he said.

On his part, Gombe Bulls coach Abduraman Mohammed said his players played well even though they lost the match.

“We lost to a team that is better prepared than us, I have to give credit to my opponents, they put on a good fight,” he said.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development for bringing back the league.

“All the teams did well. It is exciting to play the game once again. I’m most excited we are back to action,” he said.

Rivers Hoopers will represent Nigeria at the 2021 Basketball Africa League later in the year.

(NAN)