Rivers Hoopers capped their 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Four campaign with a thrilling 92–90 overtime victory over Maktown Flyers at the Basketball Stadium on Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
Having already secured the league title with a game to spare, the Hoopers faced Maktown in a fiercely contested final fixture, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage during regulation time. The game ultimately required overtime, where Rivers Hoopers held their nerve to secure a two-point victory and complete an unbeaten Final Four campaign.
The result brought Rivers Hoopers’ impressive championship run to a fitting conclusion and secured their seventh NPBL title. The Port Harcourt-based side had entered the Final Four after finishing the Final Eight at the top with a 6–1 record, while Maktown Flyers also progressed with the same record but finished behind the Hoopers on points difference.
The championship also represented a response to last season’s disappointment, when Maktown, then competing as Lagos Legends, defeated Rivers Hoopers 74–72 in the NPBL championship game. This time, however, the Hoopers prevailed in another closely fought encounter to reclaim domestic basketball’s biggest prize.
Rivers Hoopers’ championship also carries continental significance, with the title earning the club Nigeria’s qualification place for the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL). The triumph marks the Hoopers’ return to Africa’s premier club basketball competition after missing out on the continental stage for a season.
For coach Ogoh Odaudu and his players, the 92–90 overtime victory provided the perfect ending to a campaign that saw them recover the NPBL crown while completing their Final Four run without defeat.