It’s been weeks since Rivers Hoopers became the first Nigerian team to medal at the Basketball Africa League, BAL with a win over Cape Town Tigers in Rwanda.
Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers completed their adventure at the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with a dominant 23-point blowout of South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers to clinch third place, securing Nigeria’s first-ever podium finish at the BAL with an 80-57 victory.
The third-place finish celebrated all over Nigeria was a culmination of the journey that started after their first participation in BAL three years earlier.
After a 1-4 record at the inaugural edition, Rivers Hoopers’ coach Ogoh Odaudu knew they had much to learn to catch up with the best basketball clubs in Africa.
“Well, a lot changed. Not only for me as a coach but for management, for what we wanted and everything. Of course, you know of the thing, I was beaten twice shy. We went into that first stage blind, we didn’t know what we were going into. So we just went in blind like that and were caught by surprise. We were not ready to be caught by surprise again this time around.”
The results didn’t quickly germinate as they couldn’t make an immediate return the following season due to the suspension of Nigeria by FIBA.
After winning the Nigerian qualifiers via a special tournament in 2022, the political crises that engulfed the Nigerian federation affected their participation.
Subsequently, in 2023, Kwara Falcons represented Nigeria while Hoopers watched from home.
Rivers Hoopers: Lessons In Failure Turns To Recipe For Success
The first lesson was recruiting for the Nigerian basketball league and getting experienced and veteran players like Mike Oriakhi.
Arguably the best shooter/guard in the league, Mike brought his experience to bear for Rivers Hoopers.
Michael Oriakhi returned to the club in September, although he was part of our Hoopers team that lost to Customs in the final 8 a year earlier.
He left to play for Kwara at the BAL, he also played for Lagos Legends at the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship in September before rejoining Hoopers afterward.
Chris Wilson joined the team from the Comets in September 2023.
Also, Kingsley Anaba and Victor Mohammed joined Hoopers from Kwara Falcons in June.
Furthermore, Abel Offia last played for Customs while Bolaji Emilagba from Pillars joined in January.
Michael Daramola joined in January and last played for Gombe Bulls.
Where There’s A Will There’s A Way.
Meanwhile, success in the Nigerian basketball league means management and scouting work and a return to BAL has happened.
With qualification to BAL confirmed at the West African regional, Hoopers led by coach Ogoh Odaudu and general manager, Ifie Ozaka set out to replicate the feat from the league.
Firstly, they retained seven players from the Nigerian League season.
15 Victor Anthony Koko (C), 10 Mustapha Oyebanji, 5 Johnson Anaiye, 7 Buchi Nwaiwu, 2 Abel Offia, 4 Michael Daramola and 24 Victor Mohammed.
Armed with lessons from their failures at the inaugural edition of BAL and the success from recruiting in the league four years later, Hoopers took the bold step of reaching out to an experienced BAL veteran, Will Perry.
That first move on the board change put them on a path to success according to coach Ogoh Odaudu.
“It wasn’t too tough. While speaking on the phone, we realized we wanted the same objective. We all wanted the same goals and uh, he’s not about the money. He just wanted to come and play somewhere where they would prepare well and where we would go to the BAL and make some noise. So for him, it was not about the money. He just wanted a very good team and not a team that was just going there to go and participate, but a team that was going to compete. So when I laid out our plans with him and told him everything, he went ahead with it and he actually, was also part of the recruitment process. He also helped in talking to some of the players and getting them to join us.”
Building A BAL WinningTeam
After Will Perry helped the team convince other top talents, the club sat back to enjoy the fruit of their work.
Devine Eke, one of the top talents finished top on the chart for defensive rebounds at 2024 BAL, 2nd on the top scorers chart, and total rebs behind Will and Olisemeka.
Other top stars include Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisemeka, and John Wilkins among others.
“So we were following all the players that were playing. We knew that he had played a ball for two teams and he was ball tested because we just didn’t want people who had never had that ball experience to come before and play. So we knew he was tested. It was the same thing for Kelvin Amayo and John Wilkins too. They played for Sad Malia last year. They went all the way to the semi-finals and they beat the Angolan team in the third place game.” Ogoh Odaudu.
Rivers Hoopers: Winners On and Off The Court
The Kingsmen enjoyed a remarkable run that saw them emerge champions of the BAL Season Four Sahara Conference.
On a memorable night for the team from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu emerged as the BAL Season Four Coach of the Year.
Odaudu said, ”I feel really good and excited. Nobody gave us a chance, and now being voted coach of the year is the icing on the cake.
”We are extremely excited. I am proud of my team and how they came out today after the semi-final loss. They came out firing today,” Odaudu added.
