ABADA SHINES AS RIVERS HOOPERS OVERCOME LATE DRAMA TO CLAIM SIXTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY OVER GBOKO CHIEFS

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Rivers Hoopers unleashed a blistering barrage in the extra period from beyond the arc to overwhelm the Gboko City Chiefs 83-65 on Wednesday, preserving their perfect record on day four of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) playoffs.

The Chiefs immediately started shooting with a 9-2 run, but the Hoopers quickly stabilized to close the first quarter at 17-17. In a grueling physical encounter, Port Harcourt went ahead 29-23 at the main break before Gboko steadily pulled away in the second half to spark late-game heroics.

What seemed like a routine closing stretch turned into an absolute thriller when Gboko’s Marcus Thomas Jr. buried a dramatic corner 3-pointer with just 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the score at 59-59 to force overtime.

Undeterred by the late heartbreak, the KingsMen completely took over in overtime, outscoring the Chiefs 24-6.

With the score at 69-61, the Rivers Hoopers produced a masterpiece on the perimeter, knocking down four straight 3-pointers as part of a 12-0 run. Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada provided the magic, sinking three consecutive daggers from long range to send the raucous home crowd into a frenzy.

The win extends the Rivers Hoopers’ hold on what has proven to be a one-sided modern rivalry, marking their sixth straight win over the Chiefs.

“I can’t say I liked it because the way the fans see it and the way I see it is quite different,” Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu said after the intense battle. “We should have won the match according to the rules, but we made a mistake. [However] It’s good that we got to overtime and took control.”

Abel Offia and Omar Abada led the Hoopers’ offense with 18 points each. Offia was clinical from deep, draining five 3-pointers and totaling 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Abada orchestrated the floor masterfully, pairing his stellar shooting display with a game-high 7 assists.

Meanwhile, Peter Olisemeka produced a monstrous double-double with 12 points, 17 rebounds and 3 steals, while John Idoga added 13 points and Samuel Sani had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Odaudu was particularly enthusiastic about Abada’s winning impact, while hinting that the point guard is still warming up. “Very, very, very happy. And his best is yet to come,” Odaudu noted. “The heat bothers him a bit… So watch out for Omar in the next matches.”

Odaudu acknowledged the team’s stumbles due to the delay in regulation, but kept his sights set on the main goal. “It’s something that has been a problem for us… But this is just a qualifying tournament. We just have to qualify for the Final Four and in the meantime we will have time to work.

With the demanding tournament schedule continuing, Odaudu confirmed that squad rotation will be vital for day five. “We would rather not wear them out because playing seven consecutive games is a long job,” he said. “Tomorrow we will use the other players who have played fewer minutes and see how to balance the situation.”

Day five will see Rivers Hoopers take on 313 Warriors for the first time ever.

Other appliances include;

Lagos Raptors-Kano Pillars (12:00)

Gboko City Chiefs vs Hoops & Read (2pm)

Maktown Flyers-Aso Sky Hawks (4pm)

All matches will be played at the Basket Stadium, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Municipality, Rivers State.