Rivers Hoopers, a four-time Nigeria Basketball League champion, emerged victorious in the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship.
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They secured the title with a convincing 74-56 win over Spintex Knights in the final, held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.
This victory marks the third consecutive win for Rivers Hoopers over Spintex Knights, affirming their dominance in recent encounters.
The Louis Edem tournament, which takes its name from the late Nigerian basketball icon, had its first edition earlier this year and has now seen Hoopers emerge as champions twice.
Mustapha Oyebanji played a pivotal role in Hoopers’ victory and was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final. Oyebanji contributed 16 points, including four three-pointers, showcasing his scoring prowess throughout the game.
Hoopers started strongly, with Oyebanji hitting consecutive three-pointers in the opening quarter. Their offense maintained its momentum, and they led 8-0 after a 3-minute scoreless run by Spintex Knights in the third quarter.
Despite a spirited effort by the Knights in the third quarter, Hoopers managed to maintain an 8-point lead going into the fourth. In the final minutes of the game, Rivers Hoopers went on a decisive 14-2 run to secure the championship.
Victor Mohammed and Abel Offia also made significant contributions, combining for 18 points in the game. Offia, in addition to his scoring efforts, won the three-point shooting contest.
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Rivers Hoopers’ triumph in the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship comes after a three-tournament losing streak, marking their first tournament victory since February of the previous year.
Ogoh Odaudu, the head coach of the Rivers Hoopers, expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, “It feels good. I feel very good right now to win a tournament after losing three tournaments. I just hope it continues, and the only way we are going to do that is to go back and work hard so that when next we come, it will be easier than this.”
This victory adds to Rivers Hoopers’ impressive basketball legacy and demonstrates their continued commitment to excellence in the sport.
