Omar Abada, Nikolaos Okekuoyen and Raphiael Putney don celebrate dia first Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) titles afta Rivers Hoopers claim record seventh championship for the 2026 Final Four for Port Harcourt. The crown also give Rivers Hoopers return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Tunisian guard Abada, for im debut NPBL campaign, average 14.7 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game across the tournament, with assist-to-turnover ratio of 14-to-4. E score team-high 18 points, including four of six from three-point range, inside 88-76 win over Gboko City Chiefs wey seal the title, and add 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals inside 92-90 overtime win over Maktown Flyers. Dem name am for the NPBL All-Star Five.
"I dey very happy, e be great experience," Abada tok. "I dey very happy to win this championship title and qualify Rivers Hoopers for the BAL."
Reserve big man Okekuoyen score 11 points and grab four rebounds for 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, wey feature for Rivers Hoopers for the 2025 BAL campaign, play through one lingering back problem to anchor the defence and offer vocal leadership from the sidelines.
