Basketball: Rivers Hoopers Drawn In Group A Of NBBF President Cup (AUDIO)

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FIBA Africa Zone 3 Champions Rivers Hoopers have been drawn in Group A of the 2019 NBBF Premier League tagged “President Cup”.

Hoopers will play against two Lagos-based teams Lagos Islanders and Police Baton, Benue Braves and newcomers – Nigeria Army Rockets and Ondo Raiders in Group A.

The thirteen teams that honoured the NBBF’s invitation to participate in the competition were drawn into two groups – A and B. Games will be played in a round-robin format with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals. The winners of the semifinal ties progress to the final.

Hosts Kwara Falcons were drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria’s representative at the 2019 Africa Basketball League Civil Defenders, Niger Potters and newcomers; Invaders, Coal City and Raptors.

Reacting to the draws, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu disclosed a wariness of the opposition in Group A especially the new teams which he admitted not knowing much about.

“The draw looks easy but it is not easy,” Odaudu told Rivers Hoopers media channel. “We have Islanders who have a lot of experienced players in their team, we have the Police Baton also a similar team they have been there like forever, playing together so it’s not going to be easy.”

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“It is very dangerous playing against teams that you do not know like the Army team. Benue Braves we have not seen them in a while, the Ondo Raiders I don’t have an idea what they look like but I won’t say it as an easy draw until we play them. It’s going to be difficult but we will take each game at a time.

“Our target is to win as many games as possible and come out of the group then see if we can get to the semi-finals and then the final. Except you are just here to participate the objective for every team is to come and win and our objective is to win, and win,” he added

Rivers Hoopers tip-off their campaign against Ondo Raiders on Monday at 4pm.