Omar Abada, Nikolaos Okekuoyen and Raphiael Putney have celebrated their first Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) titles after Rivers Hoopers claimed a record seventh championship at the 2026 Final Four in Port Harcourt. The crown also secures Rivers Hoopers a return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Tunisian guard Abada, in his debut NPBL campaign, averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game across the tournament, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 14-to-4. He scored a team-high 18 points, including four of six from three-point range, in an 88-76 win over Gboko City Chiefs that sealed the title, and added 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 92-90 overtime win over Maktown Flyers. He was named to the NPBL All-Star Five.
"I'm very happy, it was a great experience," Abada said. "I'm very happy to win this championship title and qualify Rivers Hoopers for the BAL."
Reserve big man Okekuoyen scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes during the opening 74-60 win over Aso Sky Hawks, shooting 80 per cent from the field and 100 per cent from three-point range. American forward Putney, who featured for Rivers Hoopers in the 2025 BAL campaign, played through a lingering back problem to anchor the defence and offered vocal leadership from the sidelines.
