FOLLOWING the elimination of Union Bank, Dodan Warriors and Lagos Islanders from the DSTV Basketball League, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has re-organised the fixtures for the forthcoming DSTV Basketball 2015/2016 League season. This decision was taken due to the participation of the three Lagos teams in the Africa Basketball League which the NBBF considers as illegal.
For that reason, it has been confirmed that only five teams will slug it out in the Atlantic Conference of this season's DSTV Basketball League: Rivers Hoopers, Delta Force, Oluyole Warriors, Kwara Falcons and the only Lagos side left, Nigeria Customs. This means, a team will be placed on standby every week with the others playing against each other twice in the same week. To this end, Rivers Hoopers have been scheduled to play their first two games away at Customs in Lagos on Friday, March 18 and Sunday March 20, 2016.
Reacting to the new fixtures, Rivers Hoopers coach, Ogo Odaudu gave his full backing to the initiative by the NBBF.
"It is better for the team to play two games a week a total of 16 games rather than the 14 previously and so we won't wait too long in between games. It was also done that way because of the Olympics so we could finish on time. We will cope and I strongly support it," said Odaudu
"It also reduces the risk of travelling when we play two games before coming back." he added.
On the likelihood of the teams faced with problems arising from fatigue, he retorted: "Fatigue? We are bound to play every day in the play offs, one day rest is good for us and that is why you are allowed to register 15 or more players so another player can step in when a player gets injured."
Other Fixtures For Week 1
Oluyole Warriors V Kwara Falcons
Nigeria Customs V Rivers Hoopers
Delta Force stands by in Week 1
