Rivers Hoopers reclaimed the summit of Nigerian basketball on Monday, draining 12 three-pointers to dismantle Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 on Day Two of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Four and secure the national championship with a game to spare.
Coupled with Maktown Flyers’ (64-72) defeat to Aso Sky Hawks earlier in the day, the KingsMen’s victory guaranteed their return to the top as NPBL champions, confirming their berth at the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL), and making Tuesday’s final game a victory lap for the newly crowned kings.
The Chiefs edged ahead early and held a four-point advantage late in the opening period, but a sensational half-court buzzer-beater from Anaiye Johnson cut the deficit to 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The KingsMen seized momentum immediately in the second frame as Chinedu Nwaogu drilled a triple to lock the game at 21-21 before drawing a foul and hitting two free throws to give Hoopers a lead they would never relinquish. Abel Offia followed with a corner three-pointer to extend the cushion to 32-27, sparking wild cheers from the crowd to cap a dominant second quarter that sent the Hoopers into halftime leading 45-35.
Rivers Hoopers expanded their barrage from long range in the second half, hitting seven triples after the break to build a commanding 21-point cushion at 88-67 before comfortably running down the clock in the closing minutes. The triumph marked the Hoopers’ seventh consecutive victory over Gboko City Chiefs, following an 83-65 overtime win during the playoff phase.
Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada spearheaded the attack with a team-high 18 points, 3 assists, and sharp 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Peter Olisemeka submitted a monster double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Offia contributed 14 points, 6 boards, and 4 three-pointers. Nwaogu provided vital energy off the bench with 13 points, John Idoga chipped in 10, and Buchi Nwaiwu anchored the glass with 7 points and 11 rebounds.
Having suffered an agonizing two-point defeat (74-72) to Maktown Flyers in the final seconds of the 2025 championship game on home soil, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu celebrated the redemption at the final buzzer.
“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.”
Odaudu credited his squad’s ruthless execution in eliminating late-game drama. “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 today.”
