Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Basketball Africa League

Rivers Hoopers Dominate Stade Malien to Open 2025 BAL Campaign

#image_title

Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers got off to a dominant start in the opening game of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, with an 81-60 blowout win over Stade Malien.

The KingsMen, bronze medallists from last season, overturned a seven-point first-quarter deficit to beat their Malian counterpart inside the Salle Omnisport Moulay Abdellah, setting the tone for the fifth season of the BAL.

The Hoopers looked the hungrier of the two sides, shooting 41% from the field, with a 21-6 disparity in bench points, a key reason for their comfortable win.

Coach Ogoh Odaudu’s side edged the rebound game 49-43 to go along with 19 team assists and five blocks. The Hoopers scored more second chance points (15-7), led in fast break points (19-18), and had more points from turnovers forced (18-15).

Guard Kelvin Amayo, playing against his former team, led the Rivers Hoopers with 19 points; South Sudanese-Australian Madut Akec filled the stats sheet in his debut, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks.

Raphael Rashad Putney poured in 14 points, guard Shamba Maxi Munanga finished with 11 points and four assists, and Peter Olisemeka had nine points and 12 rebounds.

Stade Malien, meanwhile, were led by 20 points from Mahamane Coulibaly; Mouhamed Doumbya had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Cartier Diarra tallied 10 points.

The Rivers Hoopers will play host to FUS de Rabat next on Sunday, 6 April, after Stade Malien has battled Al Ittihad Alexandria.

You May Also Like

On Friday night, 2021 Hall of Fame Finalist Paul Pierce made headlines for going on Instagram Live. The former 10-time All-Star was featured smoking,...

The events that led to Paul Piece’s swift exit from ESPN have been buzzing around the internet. Reactions and responses have been coming from...

Football

A video has been released online, displaying a staff member from Eko Hotel having an argument with Joseph Yobo   https://www.instagram.com/p/CTNkVGFoF0E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 15 players were...

Paris St Germain forward Neymar pledged his future to the Ligue 1 champions, saying talks of a contract renewal at the club are no...

Copyright © 2025 Afroballers. Powered by Willingie