Rivers Hoopers captain Victor Koko has issued a firm rally to his teammates, insisting the six-time Nigerian champions must redeem themselves and reclaim the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) title at the upcoming 2026 Final Four on home soil.
The season-ending, round-robin showcase was originally slated for earlier in the month but was rescheduled to Sept. 20–22 after a venue conflict at the Basketball Stadium in Old Port Harcourt Township forced the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to push back the dates.
For Koko, the upcoming NPBL finals evoke the bitter taste of last November’s agonising defeat in the championship decider.
The KingsMen missed out on a “three-peat” in following a shocking 74–72 defeat to Lagos Legends in the final seconds of the season finale, which not only dashed hopes of a treble, but cost the Hoopers Nigeria’s solitary qualification spot for the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
“Every player on this team understands the gravity of what is ahead and the phase we are stepping into,” Koko said ahead of the tournament tip-off. “I keep telling the squad that if we win, we all go home celebrating. Everyone knows what winning means—and Nigeria does not celebrate second place.”
Reflecting on last season’s runner-up finish, Koko emphasized that the pain of coming up short in 2025 remains a powerful motivator inside the Hoopers’ locker room.
“When we came second last season, nobody celebrated us. We don’t celebrate silver. What we want to hear, what we want written on those flyers on the wall, is ‘we are champions,'” Koko said. “Every player wants to be part of that legacy. Nobody wants a repeat of what happened last time, and I believe we will not let it happen again.”
The Hoopers enter the Final Four as the top seed after putting together a dominant 6-1 run in the postseason playoffs earlier this month, edging out defending champions Maktown Flyers on points differential.
Under head coach Ogoh Odaudu, the club bolstered its roster with high-profile additions during the campaign, including veteran Tunisian point guard Omar Abada, former BAL defensive player Peter Olisemeka, forward Raphael Putney, as well as Greek giant Nikolaos Okekuoyen.
Despite entering the final stretch as top seeds, Koko stressed that credentials must be backed up with execution on the floor.
“This team was built to win championships, to put Rivers Hoopers back on the African map,” Koko added. “But we aren’t going to become champions just by talking about it. We have to be champions on the court and show people who we are.
“I know it is going to be tough, but I believe in my heart that we have the strength to overcome every team that steps in front of us,” Koko said. “We will come out victorious, and our fans will celebrate with us this time.”
The KingsMen will tip off their campaign on Sept. 20 alongside the Maktown Flyers, Gboko City Chiefs, and Aso Sky Hawks, with the overall standings leader on Sept. 22 earning the national crown and a direct berth to the 2027 BAL season.
