The Portharcourt owned Basketball team Rivers Hoopers has achieved podium finish at the BAL.
The Kings Men defeated South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers 80-57 in the third-place match at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday.
Before the showdown the match was dubbed Amapaino versus Afrobeat on the social media space.
Rivers Hoopers’ cinderella run at the competition was stopped in the semi-final by Al-Ahly Benghazi, who defeated them 89-83 on Wednesday.
But the Nigerian team shook off the disappointment of the loss and ruthlessly stomped on the Tigers to a podium finish.
The Kings Men showed superior intent from the first quarter, which ended 25-8.
Hoopers maintained dominance in the second quarter and led 43-29 at half-time. The team resumed its rampage on its South African opponents in the third quarter before rounding off its performance in the final quarter for a 23-point victory.
Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogoh Odaudu,was named the best coach of the competition in recognition of his team’s historic display.
The 2024 BAL Coach of the Year award goes to the Rivers Hoopers mentor, Ogoh Odaudu, Basketball African League posted on social media platform X.
Following an impressive showing at the Sahara Conference, the Rivers coach guided his side to a third-place finish.
The 2024 edition was the Kings Men’s second appearance at the BAL. In 2021, they crashed out in the group stage, winning just one game.
Kelvin Amayo was the kings Men’s best performer as he amassed 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists to propel Rivers Hoopers to third place.
Al-Ahly Benghazi will face Petro de Luanda of Angola in the final on Saturday.
Once again Afrobeat defeats Amapaino.
