2024 NBBF Men’s Premier League: Defending Champions, Rivers Hoopers, set up titanic final clash against Hoops N’ Read

Posted : 18 November 2024

It will be another titanic battle in the finals of the 2024 Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Men’s Premier League as the defending champions, Rivers Hoopers, once again set up a clash against the Lagos-based Hoops N’ Read basketball club.

Hoops N’ Read qualified for the finals after a nail-biting semifinal win over Spartans Basketball Club of Nile University.

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It was a semifinal full of twists and turns as the two sides fought fiercely for the ticket to the final, which will determine Nigeria’s future in basketball on the continental scene, with only one club making it to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Hoops N’ Read, the Lagos State warlords, piled pressure on Spartans BC right from the first quarter, with Nile University’s slamming and dunking wizards struggling to put their act together, dropping the first quarter 19-17.

Spartans BC Head Coach, Stanley Gumut, pulled his side together into a force that Hoops N’ Read could barely contain, as they kept gifting balls and coupled it with a fragile defense that brought the scores to 32-33 at halftime.

The halftime score did not sit well with Hoops N’ Read Head Coach, Victor Mensah, who spoke to his team in a language they understood, reigniting the squad’s desire for victory.

The revitalizing speech by Coach Mensah boosted the morale of the squad as they confidently walked onto the court with renewed zeal, giving Spartans BC a taste of their own medicine, opening up a 5-point gap to make it 48-43 at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter delivered the fatal blow to Nile University’s dream of making it to BAL, with the outstanding Suleiman Azeez, as stealthy as a cat, leading the charge with deadly sharp shooting.

‘Killer’ mask man Bolaji Emilagba also joined in the fun in the last quarter, scoring successive three-pointers to end the game at 67-58.

Hoops N’ Read will now face Rivers Hoopers, the hosts and defending champions, in the final.

The five-time NBBF Men’s Premier League champions narrowly escaped in their controversial semifinal match against Gboko City Chiefs, which was riddled with a series of delays. Angered Gboko City Chiefs fans invaded the stadium, protesting against poor officiating.

After calm was restored with the help of fully armed security officials, Rivers Hoopers went on to win 79-73, marking their entry into the final stage of the league.

2024 NBBF Men’s Premier League: Defending Champions, Rivers Hoopers, set up titanic final clash against Hoops N’ Read

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