Basketball: Rivers Hoopers thrash Comets as they begin Premier League phase two campaign

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Abel Offia overcame pre-game illness to score 18 points, leading Rivers Hoopers to a dominant 83-55 victory over Comets as Phase Two of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League began on Saturday. The match was played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The sharpshooter, who had been dealing with flu-like symptoms before tip-off, ignited the Hoopers’ offense by scoring 10 of his team-high 18 points in the second quarter, allowing Rivers Hoopers to break open a tightly contested game to turn a narrow 18-17 first-quarter lead into a commanding 41-29 cushion at halftime.

Despite the 28-point margin of victory, Rivers Hoopers interim head coach Ronald Alalibo expressed some level of dissatisfaction with his team’s execution.

“We played below par,” Alalibo said. “There were certain aspects of our plays and our structure where we lacked discipline. The winning margin could’ve been more if we had played to our full potential. You can tell from the countenance of the players, although they’re happy we won, they know there were certain things we didn’t do well.”

Hoopers extended their lead in the second half, suffocating the Comets defensively and outscoring them 42-26 across the final two quarters. Rivers Hoopers guard Anaiye Johnson echoed his coach’s sentiments but found positives in the team’s resilience.

“I’m happy with the way we played,” Johnson said. “Although we started slow in the first half, we picked up the pace later in the game. It was a good win for us.”

John Idoga contributed 14 points for the Hoopers, while Samuel Sani added 10 points in a game that saw the KingsMen enjoy success from beyond the arc, converting eight three-pointers over the course of the contest.

For Rivers Hoopers, attention immediately turns to a date with hosts, Coal City Blazers on Sunday.

Looking ahead to their next fixture, Alalibo emphasized that his squad cannot afford complacency.

“Same energy, even better than we played today,” Alalibo stated. “We know that every team came here to beat all other opponents. We have the mentality to take each game as it comes. We’re prepared to play every team as we meet them without underrating anyone.”