Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu says “too many issues went incorrect” as he mirrored on his workforce’s painful 104-73 quarter-final loss to Rwanda’s APR on Monday within the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The KingsMen, who had hopes of matching or bettering final season’s semi-final end, have been outclassed on the SunBet Enviornment in Pretoria. APR raced to a dominant 24-11 first-quarter lead and by no means seemed again, handing Rivers Hoopers their heaviest defeat in BAL historical past.
Talking after the match, Odaudu admitted his facet had a poor outing, significantly on the defensive finish.
“We didn’t defend the way in which we must always have. The 52 factors we allowed within the paint killed us,” he stated. “Too many issues went incorrect. We didn’t play in addition to we thought we may, and it occurs in basketball. We’re not offended, simply disillusioned.”
Regardless of a vibrant efficiency from Madut Akec — who completed with 19 factors, 4 assists and two rebounds — and a short-lived second-quarter fightback led by Raphiael Putney’s three straight three-pointers, the KingsMen couldn’t match APR’s power and execution.
Odaudu praised APR’s sharpness, pointing to the distinction in match readiness between each groups. Whereas APR are nonetheless lively of their home league, Rivers Hoopers hadn’t performed competitively since ending second within the Sahara Convention in Rabat, Morocco.
“We’ve been idle for weeks. APR and even US Monastir [who we played earlier] are coming straight from their leagues. In the meantime, we’ve needed to wait with out video games. It’s an enormous drawback,” he defined.
The 2024 BAL Coach of the Yr additionally used the second to name for pressing reforms in Nigeria’s basketball construction.
“We are able to’t hold displaying up on the BAL out of form and anticipate to compete. If we need to really develop, the Nigeria Basketball Federation wants to make sure we’ve got a working league. We’d like video games, not simply camps and friendlies,” he added.
Regardless of the heavy loss, Odaudu stays happy with his workforce’s journey and achievements to this point. Rivers Hoopers completed with a 4-2 report within the Sahara Convention and certified for the playoffs as runners-up.
“No person gave us an opportunity in Morocco, however we shocked many. We’ve grown. We’re nonetheless Rivers Hoopers, and we’ll be again,” he stated.
Odaudu additionally acknowledged the help from the Rivers State authorities, saying it has been higher than what many different groups obtain.
“We’re grateful for the help we’ve had to this point. It means lots and provides us one thing to construct on.”
Rivers Hoopers now return house to regroup, with eyes set on bouncing again stronger for subsequent season’s marketing campaign in Africa’s prime basketball competitors.
