RIVERS HOOPERS SINK GBOKO CITY CHIEFS 88-76 TO CAPTURE 2026 NPBL TITLE

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Rivers Hoopers regained the top of Nigerian basketball on Monday, draining 12 three-pointers to dismantle the Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 on day two of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Four and secure the national championship with one game to spare.

Coupled with Maktown Flyers’ (64-72) loss to Aso Sky Hawks earlier in the day, the KingsMen’s victory ensured their return to the top as NPBL champions, confirming their place in the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) and making Tuesday’s final match a victory lap for the newly crowned Kings.

The Chiefs took an early lead and held a four-point lead late in the opening period, but a sensational half-court buzzer by Anaiye Johnson cut the deficit to 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.

The KingsMen quickly gained momentum in the second frame when Chinedu Nwaogu drilled a 3-pointer to knot the game at 21-21 before being fouled and making two free throws to give the Hoopers a lead they would never relinquish. Abel Offia followed with a corner 3-pointer to extend the lead to 32-27, sparking wild cheers from the crowd to cap a dominant second quarter that gave the Hoopers a 45-35 lead at halftime.

The Rivers Hoopers expanded their long-range barrage in the second half, hitting seven 3-pointers after halftime to build a 21-point lead at 88-67 before running comfortably in the closing minutes. The triumph marked the Hoopers’ seventh consecutive victory over the Gboko City Chiefs, following an 83-65 overtime victory in the playoffs.

Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada led the attack with 18 points, 3 assists and accurate 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Peter Olisemeka achieved a monster double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, while Offia contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 triples. Nwaogu provided vital energy off the bench with 13 points, John Idoga had 10 and Buchi Nwaiwu anchored the glass with 7 points and 11 rebounds.

After suffering a heartbreaking two-point loss (74-72) to the Maktown Flyers in the final seconds of the 2025 championship game at home, Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu celebrated 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 the thunder to strike twice in the same place. We fought well and right now I’m really happy for the boys, happy for the crowd, happy for Rivers State and happy to be back where we should be.”

Odaudu credited his team’s ruthless execution in eliminating late-game drama. “We didn’t want to keep the game close and let it go to the wire. We wanted to blow them up and make sure we had control of the game, and that the players played perfectly. I’m really, really proud of them today.”