Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers have hit the end of the road in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) following a disappointing 104-73 defeat to Rwanda’s APR in the playoffs quarterfinals on Monday, Afrosport reports.
The Hoopers came into Monday’s game at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, as the fourth seed, having lost 89-81 to Tunisian side US Monastir in the seeding games on Saturday, while APR entered as the fifth seed after a stunning defending champions Petro de Luanda.
APR, however, looked the hungrier side, dominating the opening periods to take a 25-point lead into the halftime break. The Rwandans did not put a foot wrong throughout the contest, opening the lead to 31 heading into the final quarter.
They were statistically better, edging the Kingsmen in shooting percentages, rebounds, assists, points in the paint, bench points, and fast break points as they recorded their first BAL win against the Nigerian champions.
APR shot 42-for-64 (62%) from the field, 29-of-42 (69%) on 2-point attempts, and 50% (11-of-22) from the 3-point line. They outrebounded the Hoopers 40-39, had 27 assists compared to 15 for the KingsMen, and outscored them 52-28 in the paint.
Their substitutes had more impact, outscoring the Hoopers’ bench 32-18, and they converted their fast break attempts, with a 21-16 difference.
APR
makes a statement with a 31-point win to reach their first-ever #BAL5 Final 4!
Big respect to Rivers Hoopers
, their journey ends here, but they made Nigeria proud.
pic.twitter.com/fwdLTG62Pn
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) June 9, 2025
Five APR players ended in double figures, including four of their starters, with Anunwa Omot tying a game-high 21 points. Center Aliou Diarra had a 20-point and 10-rebound double-double, while Chasson Randle finished with 15 points and a game-high 10 assists.
The Rivers Hoopers, meanwhile, were led by 21 points from Madut Akec, who also had a game-high six steals. Raphael Putney was 0-for-5 on 2-point attempts but shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to record 12 points, while Shamba Munanga had 10 points.
Coach Ogoh Odaudu’s side have failed to surpass their third-place finish from last season and have been eliminated from the competition’s playoffs, joining Kenya’s Kriol Star and Moroccan side FUS de Rabat, while APR have made the Final Four for the first time in their history and will play Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya in the semifinals.
