Hoopers have work to do ahead of BAL playoffs – Odaudu

By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 16, 2025

Despite reaching the 2025 Basketball Africa League playoffs with a game to spare, Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu says the Nigerian champions still have some work to do to reach their target at the tournament in South Africa in June, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Rivers Hoopers closed out their Kalahari Conference campaign on Sunday with an empathic 79-59 win over Stade Malien, ending the series 4-2, but the coach isn’t satisfied, having set a target that is higher than their third-place finish from last season.

Their four wins came with doubles over Stade Malien and hosts of the Kalahari Conference FUS Rabat while they suffered their two defeats against Egypt’s Al Ittihad Alexandria.

Odaudu and his team have arrived in Nigeria after their run in Morocco and will regroup later for the playoffs.

“We need to up the ante to compete in South Africa. I see the amount of work we have to put in for us to be better in South Africa. We have the time to do all that and hopefully, we will come out better,” the coach said.

The coach had earlier set his sights on the playoffs after sealing their place in South Africa with a game to spare.

“We came in third last year. We are hoping that we are going to go a step further. Everybody wants that for us; they have pushed us, and we want to go a step further than what we did last year.”

To achieve their aim in South Africa, Odaudu will be banking on the brilliance of players like Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisemeka and Madut Akec who dominated the players’ statistics during the Kalahari Conference.

Amayo, one of the returning members of the bronze-winning team from last season topped the appearance chart with an average of 35.3 minutes per game and also averaging 6.6 assists per game in five matches.

Small Forward Akek was all over the table, averaging 17.8 points per game to lead for average points, making 41 field goals and 17 three points.

Olisemeka led Akec and others in the rebounds chart with an average of 11 rebounds per game just as power forward Raphael Putney led the blocks chart with an average of 1.7 blocks per game.

The playoffs will be held from June 6 to 14 in Pretoria, South Africa.

 

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 16, 2025


 

You may also like...
West Brom sack embattled manager Alan Pardew

Conte at Chelsea's training ground

Kane Rejects Diving Claims in Tottenham, Arsenal Clash...

Thiem crushes Nadal’s Italian Open dream

British billionaire declares interest in buying Man United...

Arsenal Lose Luiz Red Card Appeal

 

Latest News Italy in 'difficult moment' after defeat by Norway Ronaldo rejects offers to play at Club World Cup Fans must not 'over expect' before Andorra match - Tuchel Saka left out of England squad to face Andorra Was that Djokovic's goodbye to the French Open? Spurs captain Son says Postecoglou a club 'legend' Jorginho joins Flamengo after Arsenal departure NSF: SWAN Anambra Calls For Review Of Sports Policy After Abeokuta Poor Performance 36 yrs after, NFF honours Sam Okwaraji with a tournament Delap not part of England Under-21 squad for Euros Beckham set to be awarded knighthood Yamal shines as Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,512 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,666 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,684 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,283 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,276 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,274 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,075 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,618 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,723 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,348 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,790 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,209 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media