RIVERS HOOPERS CONFIDENT OF HOME CONQUEST

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu wants to consolidate on the team’s home court successes this season when they host the next round of games in Port Harcourt.

The KingsMen have a 100% record on home court this season having failed to suffer defeat in any of the 7 games played in Port Harcourt.

 The former champions are also riding on a 6-game winning streak on the road and will now return home for their next round of games, starting on Thursday.

 Odaudu is confident his lads will remain the superior of the two sides when Kwara Falcons come calling on Thursday.

 “We have been dominant, we hope to continue being dominant and we are hoping nothing is going to change.

"I think we have really improved from the time we played our last group of matches at home so it is going to be better now that we are in this form at this point of the season,” said Odaudu.

 In the same vein, Hoopers guard Ronald Alalibo declared Thursday’s game against their closest rivals in the Atlantic Conference, Kwara Falcons a “reconciliation tie” after the team's loss in Ilorin during their away schedule.

“It’s payback time, though pay back is a bit harsh but we just have to reconcile what happened in Ilorin in our last meeting,” Alalibo declared.

 The 2-time champions fell to the Ilorin based side by 36 point margin recording their biggest defeat in franchise history. A win against the Adewunmi Aderemi - led side will reduce the deficit as believed by the Marketing Degree holder.

 “All we just have to do is to beat them to reduce the deficit. We can’t afford to take risks; we just have to pick up that game so that we will know that our top spot will be sealed," said Alalibo who expects Hoopers to remain on top after Thursday’s game.

 “The league is still on and we have to try to correct our mistakes from the previous games even against Kwara Falcons," he added.

Rivers Hoopers will play Kwara Falcons on Thursday before they host Ibadan based, Oluyole Warriors on Saturday in Port Harcourt. Both games will take place at 4pm.

Previous meetings this season

27 April Rivers Hoopers 66-60 Kwara Falcons

25 May Kwara Falcons 93- 57 Rivers Hoopers

By Queen John