Rivers Hoopers have reclaimed the Nigeria Premier Basketball League title after completing an unbeaten run in the 2026 Final Four playoffs in Port Harcourt.
The KingsMen sealed the championship with a game to spare after defeating Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 on Monday, before rounding off their campaign with a narrow 92-90 overtime victory over Maktown Flyers on Tuesday.
Their victory over the Chiefs was powered by 12 successful three-pointers as Hoopers pulled away to secure the 12-point win.
Earlier on Monday, Maktown Flyers lost 72-64 to Aso SkyHawks, a result that confirmed Hoopers as champions before their final game of the playoffs.
The victory over Maktown ensured a perfect finish for Hoopers and earned the Port Harcourt-based side their seventh NPBL championship.
The triumph also served as redemption for Hoopers following their painful 74-72 loss to Maktown in last season’s championship game, which was decided in the closing seconds on their home court.
Hoopers head coach, Ogoh Odaudu, expressed his delight after his side completed their title-winning campaign.
“I’m really, really happy,” Odaudu said.
“We had a heartbreak at home here last season, and we didn’t want thunder to strike in the same place twice. We put up a good fight, and right now I’m really happy for the boys, happy for the crowd, happy for Rivers State, and happy that we’re back where we’re supposed to be.
“We didn’t want to keep the game close and let it go down to the wire. We wanted to blow them out and ensure that we had control of the game, and the players played it to perfection. I’m really, really proud of them.”
The NPBL triumph also guarantees Rivers Hoopers a return to the Basketball Africa League in 2027 after missing out on the continental competition for a season.
