HOOPERS GUARD TARGETS VICTORY IN LAGOS

Victor James

Rivers Hoopers guard, Victor James has assured that his team will continue to make up for the loss against Atlantic Conference leaders, Kwara Falcons when they continue their road trip this week.

The KingsMen will head to Lagos to face two newly promoted sides, Nigeria Airforce (NAF) Rockets on Thursday before playing against Hoops & Read on Saturday.

The Port Harcourt side lost their unbeaten run to Kwara Falcons last week Thursday in Ilorin, and despite bouncing back two days later with a win at Oluyole Warriors, the former Union Bank guard still cannot get over the loss against Falcons.

“We will just go and do the things we usually do. We will just keep our heads up, put the loss against Kwara Falcons aside, and try to get wins for both games we are going for in Lagos,” James said.

Despite beating NAF Rockets by 37 points on home court in round 1, James says they will not be underestimated.

“We are not going to look down on any team. Hoopers have been able to study and know their kind of game after we played against them. We are going to give them exactly what they bring to us and not look down on any team,“ he reiterated.

“We are going to take every game seriously as we go on.” James assured.

In round 1 of the Kwese Premier Basketball League, Hoops & Read almost snatched a victory in Port Harcourt stretching the game to overtime (69-69). But Hoopers eventually won the game by 6 points (81-75).

James, who also starred for Oluyole Warriors in the past believes the first tie against the new boys turned out the way it did because they were yet to familiarize with their game plan.

“Hoops & Read are a new team in the league so it wasn’t easy getting to know their game plan and strategy. That was why the first game was like that.

"But this one we will play against them in Lagos will be different, now we know them we know how to play them and that’s the most important thing when you play.

"When you play among guys you have been playing with, you know what they can do but these are new set of guys they are young and they always run so you tend to study them so that you can play well against them.

“I am assuring our fans in Port Harcourt that we will get both wins in Lagos.” James pledged.