Rivers Hoopers lit up the court with blistering three-point shooting to defeat Kwara Falcons 81–61 on Day Three of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) Phase Two in Port Harcourt.
The Falcons opened strong with back-to-back threes, but the defending champions quickly recovered, tying the game at 13–13 before closing the first quarter ahead, 17–13. From then on, the KingsMen seized control.
Mustapha Oyebanji powered the second-quarter surge, scoring 14 of his game-high 18 points, including four from beyond the arc. His shooting spree helped Hoopers build a 44–30 halftime lead.
The hosts drilled five triples in the second quarter and finished with 12 overall—the highest by any team in a single game at the Atlantic Conference Phase Two so far.
By the third quarter, Hoopers had stretched the margin to 22 points, thrilling their home fans with every basket.
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Rising star Favour Komene added 14 points, captain Victor Koko chipped in 13, while John Idoga scored 11 as four players finished in double digits.
Assistant Coach Ronald Alalibo praised the performance but emphasized constant improvement:
“Even in this win, we saw mistakes. We’ll go back to the drawing board and make adjustments. It’s a learning process, and we have to get better each game,” he said.
The Hoopers face Comets next on Wednesday evening, aiming to extend their unbeaten run in Phase Two.
