Rivers Hoopers clinched the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League title in Port Harcourt, completing the Final Four Playoffs unbeaten at 3-0. A 92-90 overtime victory over the Maktown Flyers in the decider secured the crown on home soil and sent the Kingsmen back to the Basketball Africa League. Tunisian guard Omar Abada drained a clutch two-point basket for a three-point lead with under three minutes left, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Peter Olisemeka posted a 16-point, 18-rebound double-double. Hoopers had earlier beaten the Aso Sky Hawks 74-60 and the Gboko City Chiefs 88-76.
The Port Harcourt club lifted a seventh domestic league title, adding to previous wins in 2011, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024 after surrendering the crown to the Maktown Flyers the previous season.
Abel Offia, a member of Nigeria's 2023 FIBA AfroCan squad, claimed MVP honours and said the award reflected collective effort. He promised a determined Rivers Hoopers campaign in the BAL, stressing the need to prepare, stay disciplined and represent Rivers State and Nigeria with pride.
Offia joined Abada and Olisemeka on the All-Tournament Team, alongside Paul Dibal of the Aso SkyHawks and Thomas Marcus of Gboko City Chiefs. The league, launched on May 16, 2026 by the Nigeria Basketball Federation with 20 teams split into Atlantic and Savannah conferences, peaked at the Final 8 from August 29 to September 6.
