Idoga shines and Rivers Hoopers crushes Hoops and Law in 2026 NPBL opener

Post views: 26

John Idoga scored a game-high 23 points to lead six-time champions Rivers Hoopers to a resounding 84-58 victory over Hoops & Read in the opening round of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) on Sunday.

The encounter at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, was the first competitive outing for the KingsMen since their narrow defeat to the Maktown Flyers in the 2025 NPBL finals.

Hoops & Read won a hotly contested opening quarter 17-15, but Rivers Hoopers found their rhythm in the second period to take a 37-31 lead at halftime, fueled by 16 first-half points from Idoga.

The KingsMen broke the game open in the third quarter, when Idoga and captain Victor Anthony Koko combined to score the Hoopers’ first 14 points of the second half, outscoring their opponents 30-15 and building a 20-point lead.

With the win secured, interim coach Ronald Alalibo rotated his lineup in the final period as Rivers Hoopers finished with a 26-point win.

Koko finished with 18 points and Abel Offia added 10 for the KingsMen, who saw three players score in double figures.

However, speaking afterwards, the team captain stressed that there is still work to be done.

“Good win for the team, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Koko said. “Most of the guys on the team are new players who need to get in tune with the game philosophy.”

Alalibo echoed his captain’s point of view, acknowledging that building team chemistry will take some effort.

“We are still a work in progress,” Alalibo said. “We have some additions to our team and in our preparations we anticipated some challenges in team chemistry. We noticed some errors during the game and tried to address them.”

Alalibo, who is usually an assistant, currently commands shots from the baseline in the absence of veteran tactician Ogoh Odaudu. He described the opportunity to lead the KingsMen as a special moment.

“It’s surreal to be in this position. As a coach, you expect that somewhere along the way you’ll be tasked with leading a team, but it’s still special.”

Rivers Hoopers will take on Comets Basketball Club on Monday, May 18, with Alalibo anticipating a tougher challenge.

“We expect a tougher opponent, but we will try to take it one game at a time,” Alalibo added. “Everyone wants to beat us and we are aware of that.”