Hoops N’ Reads End NPBL Final 8 Campaign With Valuable Lessons
Oru Leonard
Hoops N’ Reads have ended their Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final 8 campaign in seventh position after losing 68-53 to Kano Pillars in their final game of the season.
The Lagos-based team managed just one victory in seven matches during the Final 8, but their campaign also offered valuable experience to a young squad competing against some of the more established sides in the league.
Against Kano Pillars, Hoops N’ Reads struggled to establish a rhythm, failing to take the lead in any of the four quarters as their opponents maintained control of the contest.
Head coach Emeka Oputa attributed the team’s difficult outing to a combination of injuries, fatigue and the inexperience of his players.
“We have players who have injuries, and fatigue really set in. We could not pick it up today at all,” Oputa said.
Despite the result, the coach said the team could take positives from the competition, stressing that the players’ youth and limited experience should be viewed as part of their development.
“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 experience gained from playing against some of the league’s best teams would prove important to the players’ continued development.
He also acknowledged the support of Hoops N’ Reads President Olumide Oyedeji (OLY), who he credited for his commitment to the team throughout the competition.
Looking ahead, Oputa said the club would review its performance and identify areas requiring improvement, including recruitment, preparation and team chemistry.
According to him, the team had limited time to prepare for the Final 8, having only commenced preparations together on May 1.
“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 expressed optimism that an earlier start to preparations would allow the players to build stronger chemistry, improve their understanding and compete more effectively next season.
On the possibility of strengthening the squad with foreign players, Oputa said the final decision would rest with the club’s management.
Although Hoops N’ Reads finished seventh, the Final 8 campaign has provided the young Lagos side with valuable exposure and a clearer understanding of what is required to compete at the highest level of the NPBL.
With more preparation time, improved squad depth and continued development of its young players, Hoops N’ Reads will be hoping to return next season as a more competitive and experienced team.
