Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu and Most Valuable Player Abel Offia have set the newly crowned national champions’ sights on the Basketball Africa League (BAL), with Offia saying the team wants to reach the playoffs first. The pair spoke after the KingsMen beat outgoing champions Maktown Flyers 92-90 in overtime on Tuesday, on Day Three of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Four in Port Harcourt.
"I feel very excited to be heading back to the BAL with the same team," Offia said. "We'll try to do something different this time. We want to reach the playoffs first and see how far we can go." Odaudu added: "I'm excited that we're back at the Basketball Africa League, which is the biggest stage in African club basketball."
Maktown led 47-38 at halftime before Hoopers outscored them 25-16 in the third quarter to level at 80-80. Offia scored 7 of his 14 points in overtime, sinking a jumper with under 60 seconds left to tie the game before a steal at midcourt set up the decisive layup. Peter Olisemeka posted a 16-point, 18-rebound double-double, Omar Abada added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, and Offia was named NPBL MVP alongside Olisemeka and Abada on the All-Star Five. In the day’s earlier game, Aso Sky Hawks beat Gboko City Chiefs 80-75 to finish second at 2-1 and claim the Savannah Conference title.
