Rivers Hoopers win NPBL title, head back to BAL in 2027

Rivers Hoopers have been named champions of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL). They finished the Final Four playoffs in Port Harcourt without losing a game.

The KingsMen claimed their seventh NPBL title with a perfect record. They followed up their championship win over Gboko City Chiefs on Monday with a thrilling overtime victory against Maktown Flyers on Tuesday.

Hoopers secured the title with a game to go after defeating Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 on Monday. They ended their campaign with a close 92-90 win over Maktown Flyers.

The win against the Chiefs featured a strong performance from long range. Rivers Hoopers made 12 three-pointers to achieve their 88-76 victory.

Earlier on Monday, Maktown Flyers lost 72-64 to Aso SkyHawks. This result confirmed Hoopers as champions even before their last game.

Despite already winning the title, the KingsMen did not hold back. They delivered another strong performance against Maktown on Tuesday to finish the Final Four without a loss.

This win meant a lot to Hoopers. It was a chance to get back at Maktown for losing to them last season in the finals.

Maktown had beaten Rivers Hoopers 74-72 in last year's title game, snatching victory at the last moment on Hoopers' home ground.

A year later, Ogoh Odaudu’s team turned the tables and celebrated their championship win at home.

For Hoopers head coach Odaudu, this victory was more than just another title. It was a way to respond to the disappointment from last season.

“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 2026 championship also brings Rivers Hoopers back to the continental basketball scene.

With the NPBL title won, the KingsMen have secured Nigeria’s spot in the 2027 Basketball Africa League. This marks their return to the continental competition after missing out for a season.

For Rivers Hoopers, it’s their seventh league title, an unbeaten run in the Final Four, and a long-awaited comeback after last season’s heartbreak. They capped it all with another thrilling win over the team that denied them the title a year ago.