Rivers Hoopers step up preparations ahead of 2025 BAL, signs new player

Posted : 12 March 2025

Nigeria Premier Basketball League champions, Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club, have re-signed experienced shooting guard Kelvin Amayo and powerful center Peter Olisemeka for their participation in the 2025 Basketball Africa League Season 5.

Head Coach of Rivers Hoopers, Ogoh Odaudu, is solidifying his team with top-tier talent as they prepare for their third appearance in the prestigious continental basketball tournament.

With Kelvin Amayo spearheading the KingsMen's offense and 33-year-old Peter Olisemeka coordinating the defense, the Rivers Hoopers made history last year by finishing third, Nigeria’s best-ever finish in the Basketball Africa League.

The Nigerian basketball giants are determined to rewrite history, aiming to go a step further this time by strengthening their squad with some of the best players, including Kelvin Amayo and Peter Olisemeka.

Basketball enthusiast Amayo led Rivers Hoopers to victory in the 2024 abridged Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Men’s Premier League Final, defeating Hoops N’ Read of Lagos and claiming the MVP Award.

The Canadian-born Nigerian averaged 16 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, and 2.2 steals per game, earning a spot in the All-BAL Second Team (2024) and the BAL All-Defensive Second Team (2024).

Amayo and Peter Olisemeka are Rivers Hoopers' first signings ahead of this season’s BAL.

The 6'9" center averaged 10 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, and 1.4 blocks per game in 9 games played for the KingsMen at the 2024 BAL.

Olisemeka also recorded three double-doubles against US Monastir, AS Douanes, and APR in the Sahara Conference.

Rivers Hoopers have been drawn into the Kalahari Conference of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season.

The Port Harcourt-based team will face FUS Rabat of Morocco, Egypt’s Al Ittihad, and Stade Malien of Mali from April 5-13 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

Hoopers, the six-time Nigerian champions, will begin their quest to reach the playoffs with a thrilling clash against Mali’s powerful team, Stade Malien.

The 2025 BAL teams have been divided into three conferences, each with four teams:

Kalahari Conference – Rabat
Sahara Conference – Dakar
Nile Conference – Kigali
Each conference will have a 12-game group phase, during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice.

The top two teams from each conference, along with the two best third-placed teams from all three conferences, will advance to the playoffs.

Rivers Hoopers step up preparations ahead of 2025 BAL, signs new player

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics