Defending champions Rivers Hoopers opened Phase Two of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) with a hard-fought 67-58 win over Hoops & Read in Port Harcourt, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
Led by captain Victor Koko and the lively Victor Sunday, the KingsMen closed the first quarter 17-11 before Hoops & Read rallied to narrow the deficit in the second quarter.
Buchi Nwaiwu’s dominant inside play, however, restored Hoopers’ control at halftime with a 36-28 lead.
The visitors fought back strongly in the third quarter, tying the game at 39-39, but substitutions by Coach Ogoh Odaudu — including Mustapha Oyebanji and Michael Okiki — sparked a decisive 13-0 run.
Okiki finished with a team-high 13 points as Hoopers held firm in the final quarter to secure a 9-point win. In the day’s earlier fixture, Lagos Legends defeated Comets 70-46.