Rivers Hoopers forward Abel Offia, named Most Valuable Player of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League, has set his sights on the Basketball Africa League after winning his first domestic title with the Port Harcourt-based club. Offia told Punch Newspapers he had reached previous NPBL finals without lifting the trophy.
Offia said he first picked up the sport at 12 in Benin after watching a girl play and losing a game to her. He returned every afternoon after school until a coach invited him to join the team, and he fell in love with the game. He represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIBA AfroCan and said he would welcome another chance to play for the national team.
The MVP award, Offia said, belongs to Nigerian players competing in the local league. He argued that the honour shows local players can match those who return from abroad, regardless of where those players developed. He dedicated the award to his coaches, teammates and everyone who supported him.
Offia attributed Rivers Hoopers' success to a squad committed to collective play rather than individual stardom. He said teammates corrected mistakes without letting emotions get the better of them and credited the club's coaching and discipline for his growth.
