Four-time champions of the Nigeria Premier League, Rivers Hoopers saw off a late surge to defeat Police Batons 74-62 in their first game of the 2023 NBBF Premier League in Asaba on Tuesday.
Mustapha Oyebanji led other Hoopers with 22 points including six 3-pointers, Johnson Anaiye contributed 12 points while Victor Anthony Koko and Victor Mohammed added 10 points apiece for Hoopers.
Chris Wilson shot back to back buckets and a buzzer beater as the Port Harcourt based team held a 12-point lead at halftime 38-26.
Hoopers struggled on the offense in the third quarter and could only manage 8 points and were outscored 8-16.
Police Batons cut down the deficit to one with eight minutes left to play (48-47) in the game.
Oyebanji buried a clutch three-pointer to make it a 10 point game 61-51 with just 3 minutes remaining and Hoopers ensured they ran away with the win.
Hoopers guard Johnson Anaiye said they could have executed the game better but was happy they ran away with the victory.
”The game was great even though it was scrappy at the beginning but in the end it was great. We were rushing the game and it was a game we should have taken our time to execute every offense one after the other, but we rushed it and wanted to end it quickly. I feel that is what affected us in the game.”
The KingsMen play Lagos Legends in their second game on Wednesday, but Anaiye is confident they will emerge victorious.
”The first game of a tournament is always scrappy but I believe we will pick up in the next game and put in our best and follow all we have been taught. At the end of the day we will be victorious,” said Anaiye.
