Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu said the team is back where they should be after winning the Nigeria Premier Basketball League title. They took the title with a game to spare at the 2026 playoffs in Port Harcourt, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The Hoopers won the NPBL trophy on Monday, hitting 12 three-pointers to defeat Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 on Day Two of the 2026 Final Four. This victory secured the championship with one game still to play.
Earlier on the same day, Maktown Flyers lost 72-64 to Aso Sky Hawks. This loss guaranteed that the KingsMen returned to the top as NPBL champions and also secured their spot in the 2027 Basketball Africa League.
Tuesday’s final game marked the Hoopers’ seventh league title in history. After a heartbreaking two-point loss, 74-72, to Maktown Flyers in last season’s final at home, Odaudu celebrated their redemption when the final buzzer went off.
“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 Chiefs started strong and led by four points late in the first period. But Anaiye Johnson hit a fantastic half-court buzzer-beater, cutting the gap to 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The KingsMen took control right away in the second quarter. Chinedu Nwaogu made a three-pointer to tie the game at 21-21. He then drew a foul and made both free throws to put the Hoopers ahead for good.
Abel Offia followed with a corner three-pointer, extending the lead to 32-27. This sparked wild celebrations from the crowd as the Hoopers dominated the second quarter, going into halftime with a 45-35 lead.
After the break, Rivers Hoopers continued their long-range shooting. They hit seven three-pointers in the second half, building a solid 21-point lead at 88-67. They comfortably ran down the clock in the final minutes.
This win marked the Hoopers’ seventh straight victory over Gboko City Chiefs, following an 83-65 overtime win during the playoff phase. Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada led the team with 18 points and three assists, shooting 4-of-6 from three-point range.
Peter Olisemeka had a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Offia also added 14 points, along with six rebounds and four three-pointers. Nwaogu brought important energy off the bench with 13 points. John Idoga contributed 10 points, while Buchi Nwaiwu had seven points and 11 rebounds.
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