Hoops N’ Reads bow out of NPBL Final 8 with lessons and promise

Posted : 07 September 2026

Hoops N’ Reads ended their Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final 8 campaign in seventh place after a 68-53 defeat to Kano Pillars in their final game, but Head Coach Emeka Oputa believes the experience will provide a strong foundation for the team’s future.

The Lagos-based side managed one victory from seven games in the highly competitive Final 8, where their young squad faced several of the league’s more experienced teams.

Against Kano Pillars, Hoops N’ Reads struggled to establish any momentum, trailing throughout the four quarters as the Kano side maintained control of the encounter.

For Oputa, however, the campaign offered an important learning opportunity for a team still developing its identity.

“We have players who have injuries, and fatigue really set in. We could not pick it up today at all,” Oputa said after the game.

The coach attributed some of the team’s difficulties to injuries, fatigue and the relative inexperience of the players, noting that the demanding schedule exposed areas requiring improvement.

“Every other team that we have played, the team has really done well, but young players, inexperienced players, fatigue has already set in,” he added.

Oputa said the lessons from competing against established teams would be valuable to the players as they continue to gain experience at the highest level of domestic basketball.

He also acknowledged the contribution of club President Olumide Oyedeji (OLY), whose support, according to the coach, remained important throughout the Final 8 campaign.

Looking ahead, Oputa said the club would assess its performance and begin planning early for the new season, with improved preparation, recruitment and team chemistry expected to be among the major priorities.

According to him, Hoops N’ Reads only began preparations for the Final 8 on May 1, leaving limited time for the young squad to build cohesion ahead of the competition.

“We need more time to stay together. As a matter of fact, we started on the first of May as a team. We'll look at it. We’ll be able to start a little bit earlier and stay together to gel as a team,” he said.

The coach believes an earlier start to preparations will enable the players to develop better understanding, improve their chemistry and compete more effectively against experienced opposition.

Oputa also disclosed that the possibility of recruiting foreign players could be considered, although he noted that the final decision would rest with the club's management.

Despite finishing seventh, the coach sees the Final 8 experience as an important stage in the development of the young Hoops N’ Reads players.

The Lagos outfit will now return to the drawing board, hoping that better preparation, increased experience and possible reinforcements will help transform the lessons of the campaign into improved performances when the NPBL resumes.

Hoops N’ Reads bow out of NPBL Final 8 with lessons and promise

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics