Rivers Hoopers captain Victor Anthony Koko don tok how di pain of losing last season Nigeria Premier Basketball League title push di Kingsmen back to di summit, as e end im playing career on championship note.
Hoopers collect back di title with perfect 3-0 record for di 2026 Final Four for Port Harcourt, to lock dia seventh domestic crown and di slot for 2027 Basketball Africa League. Di victory ova Gboko City Chiefs 88-76 secure di championship with one game to spare, before Hoopers complete di sweep with 92-90 overtime win ova Maktown Flyers, di same team wey beat dem 74-72 for di previous final.
"When we come second last season, nobody celebrate us," Koko tok before di Final Four. E stress say di squad understand say dem need to fight for di championship, make dem no just assume am.
Shortly afta dat one, Koko announce im retirement, to end career wey start with Rivers Hoopers for 2009. Di 6ft 9in centre/power forward dey comot as eight-time Nigerian league champion, afta e add one title with Mark Mentors for 2015. Im honours include bronze medal with Hoopers for di 2024 Basketball Africa League, appearances for di 2019 FIBA AfroCan and 2021 AfroBasket, and di 2021 Final MVP award. Rivers Hoopers don retire im No. 15 jersey.
