By Oluwatobiloba Kumoye in Port Harcourt
Hoops N’ Read’s difficult run in the Nigeria Premier Basketball League continued as the Lagos-based side suffered a fifth consecutive defeat, losing 67–64 to Gboko City Chiefs in a closely fought encounter.
The defeat further deepened the club’s current struggles, with head coach Emeka Oputa admitting that inexperience and poor decision-making in the closing stages contributed significantly to the latest setback.
“We will keep making adjustments, keep fighting, and we’ll see how it goes,” Oputa said after the game.
Hoops N’ Read endured a difficult opening half, trailing Gboko City Chiefs 43–33 at the end of the second quarter. However, the Lagos side staged a spirited comeback and eventually moved into a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter.
But just when victory appeared within reach, Hoops N’ Read failed to manage the closing moments effectively, allowing the Chiefs to turn the game around and secure a narrow three-point victory.
“It boils down to inexperience. We did a lot of shuffling. We had to change one or two things. Our defence was okay, but our decision-making in the last minutes was poor,” Oputa explained.
The result leaves Hoops N’ Read enduring one of the most difficult periods in the club’s 10-year history, with the five-game losing streak beginning to take a psychological toll on the players.
“I am not satisfied. It’s a very sad week. The defeats are affecting my players psychologically,” the coach said.
Oputa also identified the relative lack of experience within the squad as a major factor behind the team’s struggles, noting that several players are competing in the league for the first time.
“Most of our players are playing in the league for the first time, and that is actually playing out,” he added.
With the season still ongoing, Hoops N’ Read will now look to halt the losing run and rebuild confidence as they continue their campaign in the Nigeria Premier Basketball League.
