Rivers Hoopers Coach Reflects on Challenging NPBL Title Defense
Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu has acknowledged the pressure his team faced in successfully defending their Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) title after defeating Lagos-based Hoops & Read 71-54 in the 2024 final on Monday in Port Harcourt.
The victory secured the team’s sixth league title in front of their home crowd. Despite winning all 12 matches from the conference finals to the playoffs, Odaudu admitted that overconfidence nearly jeopardized their campaign.
In the semi-final, Rivers Hoopers narrowly overcame Gboko City Chiefs 79-73 in a gripping encounter. Reflecting on the match, Odaudu remarked, “The game against Gboko Chiefs felt like the real final. It was tough, but we prepared well and eventually prevailed. At first, the players’ overconfidence was evident, but I kept pushing them, and we closed out the game successfully.”
Elated by the back-to-back title win, Odaudu emphasized the team’s ultimate goal. “We began this season with the Basketball Africa League (BAL) ticket as our primary aim. I’m proud of my players and staff for their determination. The competition was fierce, but we achieved our target. The real challenge lies ahead.”
Rivers Hoopers also dominated the NBBF All-Star Five, with Michael Okiki, final MVP Kelvin Amayo, and Buchi Vincent earning spots alongside Chingka Garba (Gboko City Chiefs) and Clinton Osabuchi (Hoops & Read).