BASKETBALL: Hoopers lose playoff opener to Customs

.Face Oluyole Warriors on Wednesday
 

RIVERS Hoopers were on Tuesday beaten by Nigeria Customs 68-71 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos in their first post-season playoff contest of the 2016 DSTV/NBBF Premier Male League Conference.

Power forward, Somtochukwu Managor continued his rich vein of form as he scored a playoff high 20 points and 3 rebounds while Shooting guard Ronald Alalibo added 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in the game but the team capitulated in the second half of the opener.

The former champions led from the first quarter (19-20) and maintained the momentum in the second (35-40) adding a total of 20 points heading to the half time.

Double digit scorers of Tuesday’s game, Managor and Alalibo both spearheaded the team’s lead with the former making double dunks in the second and the latter scoring four of his six straight 3-pointers in the game. The duo were hoping for an eventual victory but that was dented by the Lagos based side who got back to their rhythm in the third quarter, dominating the defence and thus deprived the Port Harcourt side of accurate shooting, a scenario which continued in the last quarter.

More importantly however, the Hoopers failed to score a reasonable number of their free throws won in the last two quarters, converting a sparing 13 points and suffered a total number of 22 turn overs in the entire game.

Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu attributed the loss to too many errors in the game.

“I think we did well but in a game you lose by 3 points and missed 12 free throws, 22 turn overs, it doesn’t make any sense at all. If we had scored half of the free throws, the game would have been over but we didn’t. We are going to correct our mistakes starting with the game against Oluyole Warriors tomorrow,” said Odaudu.

On his part, Mohammed Abba who is the stand in coach for Scott Nnaji who is on duty with the Women National team,  said Nnaji’s technical input is missed by the team but they will do all they can to qualify for the final 8 play offs.

Hoopers will look to quickly bounce back on Wednesday when they face Oluyole Warriors in their second play off fixture at the same venue.